Our research seeks out ways to improve the systems and processes we use to collect and treat waste water. This includes:
- rethinking sewer systems as components of waste water treatment systems
- developing new treatment technologies for added value recovery
- developing flexible and modular treatment systems
- developing new treatment technologies to remove pharmaceuticals, personal care products and other micro pollutants
During its use, water takes up faecal wastes and other contaminations. This used water is then discharged back into the environment. Until the 1960s, water drained from urban areas directly into surface waters. But, due to surface water deterioration, waste water treatment systems were installed to protect surface waters from pollution.
Waste water is now recognised as a resource for many valuable materials such as water itself, nutrients, feedstocks for bioplastics, and chemical energy and heat. More utilities are seeking efficient and effective ways to recover these materials, leading to an important role in the circular economy.
An important international development is the many uses of water for many purposes. This means that water will cascade through several applications, each time degrading its quality until it is unusable and requires treatment.
A second aspect of waste water collection is urban drainage. This is important to keep 'dry feet', reduce nuisance and damage by extreme precipitation events. When we collect rainwater in a controlled way, it reduces nuisance and damage and the water can be used as an alternative water source.