Water & Wastewater Treatment

www.wwtonline.co.uk | WWT | NovemBeR 2015 | 31 In the know The use of tryptophan fluorometers is a potential gamechanger for the Environment Agency to identifying bathing water pollution early, although further development work is required to ensure they are effective, delegates at the Sensing in Water (SWIG) conference in Nottingham heard. Stephen Bailey, Environment Officer for the Environment Agency in the South East of England, said that the EA had been using tryptophan fluorometers – which can instantly detect organic pollution by its RESEARCH ROUND UP Fluorometers could be a 'gamechanger' on bathing water level of fluorescence – in his region for around two years. The sensors can provide an instant indication of the presence of organic pollution from sewage and harmful bacteria such as E.coli which might make it necessary to close a beach. This contrasts with traditional methods which require 4 or 5 days for the analysis of a sample to come back from a laboratory, Bailey explained. "The end point is to go to a bathing water and have a real-time indication of quality. Being able to give the local authority that RISING UP The UK Water Partnership has announced that Richard Benyon MP is to take up the role of chairman, replacing Lord Chris Smith. Newbury Conservative mP Benyon, who served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defra between 2010-13 where he had lead responsibility for water, will take over the chairmanship on october 10. The UK Water Partnership is committed to forging a coherent alliance between organisations that share a commitment to excellent research, innovation and growth across the sector and its inter- dependent communities. Sir James Bevan has been appointed chief executive of the environment Agency. Sir James, who has had a long career in government and is currently the UK's High Commissioner to India, will take up the role on 30 November. He will replace Paul Leinster, who le the Environment Agency a er 17 years on September 25th. Cranfield University has appointed Ian Holman as Professor of Integrated Land and Water management. Professor Holman has been at Cranfield since 1994. Flood and pollution prevention experts Detectronic have appointed Lawrence Kieran as asset stewardship manager. Kieran has spent the last four years working as plant and transport manager with Kier mG, working on contracts with Severn Trent Water, Wessex Water and United Utilities. instantaneous information, which they can act upon to open or close a beach, would be a real gamechanger," said Bailey. He said that this may mean fewer closures as reassuring readings can give councils the confidence to keep beaches open. "For the local authorities, these waters are vital for tourism. And for a water company, this could make the difference between a category 2 pollution incident and a category 3 incident," he added. The Agency has used the fluorometers during routine EU bathing water sampling in Kent during the summers of 2014 and 2015 to give an early indication of any mandatory failures. The meters gave one clear alert during this time, which was later confirmed by lab tests, said Bailey. The meters were also used as part of incident response over the same period, and to check final effluent from water company assets in the summer of 2014 around shellfish waters such as Margate and Whitstable. "At the moment, my comment would be that in grossly contaminated water, it is working really well – put it into very polluted water and all its bells and whistles will go off - but at lower levels, it is not yet sensitive enough," said Bailey. "With the revised Bathing Water Directive we will need that to be improved if it's to give us what we need." ● 33 Digging Deeper: Pump clogging ● 36 Q&A: Drilling and Tapping ● 39 Getting to Grips: Legionella ● 43 Technically Speaking: Pipe assessment 2-6 Nov International Water Week Conference, Amsterdam. 9-11 Nov Aqua enviro european Biosolids Conference, manchester. 1 Dec WWT Water Industry Technology & Innovation conference, Birmingham. 28 Jan WWT Wastewater 2016 conference, Birmingham. COmING UP United Utilities is upgrading its phosphorus removal capability at a wastewater treatment plant in Grasmere, Cumbria, in a 12-month trial. The discharge of phosphorus - a nutrient that can stimulate the growth of algal blooms which reduce oxygen in rivers and lakes - is being more tightly restricted under the Water Framework Directive because of the negative impact it can have on aquatic life. Grasmere wastewater treatment works already has equipment to remove phosphorus from treated wastewater, using continuously operating upflow sand filters. The extra investment will support the trial of a new technology to enhance phosphorus removal, adding an upfront ferric dosing stage to the existing filters, combined with pH control. As well as the upgrade at the treatment works, United Utilities will be investing in the local sewer network. Currently, groundwater can find its way into sewer pipes in parts of the network, especially areas close to the River Rothay. UU trials enhanced phosphorus removal at Grasmere

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