Proceedings

The Water Industry faces a huge challenge in AMP7 to meet new low P permits. At the same time there is growing acknowledgement that we face a global climate emergency. It has been estimated that the AMP7 low P programme will use 750,000 tonnes per annum ferric, outstripping the current UK production capacity. Current industry standards for achieving low P permits are capital intensive, relying on installation of tertiary solids removal processes, alongside the chemical dosing, with associated operating costs.  The embodied and operating carbon of tertiary treatment comes at a high carbon cost at a time when Governments need to reduce carbon emissions to stem climate change. Reliance on chemical dosing is not a sustainable strategy and Stantec are helping clients develop a more sustainable, six capitals approach to deliver the environmental waterbody benefits with a lower impact on carbon and TOTEX.

The paper will describe how a combination of phosphorus permit trading, catchment opportunities, maximising opportunities for biological P removal and taking a phased, risk based approach to capital investment can result in an overall more cost effective and sustainable solution, without compromising river quality.