Optimising Chemical Phosphorus Removal: Pitfalls & Solutions (19/5/2026)
19 May 2026, VIRTUAL
Tuesday 19th May 2026
Format: Online
Times: 9:30 AM – 16:30 PM
Fee: £350 plus VAT for 1-person (includes slides presented)
Course Overview
Driven by the Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP), UK water companies have and continue to install new plants to meet tightened phosphorus permit limits. Investment has been dominated by chemical dosing and a whole array of solids removal technologies.
Most, but not all sites are meeting discharge criteria; however, operational challenges are widespread. Some of these perhaps could have been foreseen at the design stage whilst others were less obvious, yet there is a growing number of issues and clear patterns emerging:
- Difficulty in consistently maintaining nitrification (ammonia removal) due to alkalinity deficiency and increased inorganic content in the biomass
- Separation and over thickening of waste sludges
- Discoloration of the final effluent
- Higher than anticipated chemical consumption
- Appearance of the scalant vivianite in multiple locations
- Inability to handle return liquor load leading to an increased tankering requirement from smaller sites
- Escalating opex costs
- Inadequate tools to optimise
Chemical phosphorus removal requires a change in mindset and an openness and willingness to start again with plant control. Metrics that have been successfully adopted on sites for decades need a reset; it is not business as usual the process is now very different.
To meet and maintain compliance levels, operators, process scientists and managers will need to understand the principals of chemical dosing, the impact upon the treated wastewater and the actions that can be taken to optimise.
This course works through each aspect of chemical treatment, tackles the issues being encountered and the practical options to make the step change that is needed. AS well as operators the course will be of interest to anyone interested involved in the P-removal supply chain.
Course Aim
To understand the factors influencing chemical phosphorus removal and how this affects the whole works. This includes worked examples to benchmark chemical dose rates, the impact on alkalinity, solids production, scaling potential and costs. Dosing locations, solids removal options/technologies and target values to deliver compliance are presented in a way that attendees can leave the course with their own optimisation plan.
Learning is delivered through a combination of lectures, case studies and worked examples.
Course Programme
- The impact of dosing chemicals upon wastewater characteristics – in theory and in practice
- Chemical phosphorus removal including worked examples for benchmarking and optimising does rates
- Quantifying the impact on waste sludge and return liquors
- Technologies for removing phosphorus and the suspended solids generated
- Best practice optimisation guide
Trainer Profile
Matthew Smyth BSc, MRes, MBA, MCIWEM CSci CWEM
Director, Aqua Environment Solutions Limited
E. matthew.smyth@aquaenvironment.co.uk
Matt has been in wastewater and sludge for over twenty-five years and works with water companies, industry and waste producers to develop and implement solutions. He has delivered training courses for fifteen years to thousands in our industry.
In the late 1990’s he began his career working on pilot and full-scale Sequencing Batch Reactors, developing, then commissioning carbonaceous and nitrification control strategies, that were widely adopted in plants in the UK and Ireland. He has subsequently worked closely with many anaerobic and advanced anaerobic digestion facilities treating sewage sludges, wastewater and food waste materials; dewatering the digestate and handling the liquors produced. He presents and publishes regularly at industry recognized conferences chairs Aqua Enviro’s European Biosolids & Organics and European Wastewater Management Conferences.
Outside of training Matt manages interesting technical projects. His continued exposure to a wide range of investigative, challenging and solution orientated projects is brought into training to ensure that the material presented is current and relevant.
