Water & Wastewater Treatment

www.wwtonline.co.uk | WWT | JANUARY 2016 | 23 In the know The government has announced investment of £8.2M to support advances in water treatment and infrastructure research through Cranfield Universi- ty's Water Science Institute in the Autumn Statement and Comprehensive Spend- ing Review. The investment comes through the UK Col- laboratorium for Research in Infrastructure & Cities (UKCRIC) which involves 14 UK universities engaged in cutting-edge national infrastructure research. The investment at Cranfield will enhance the University's existing industrial-scale test facilities, providing extended access to on- site wastewater, water, and stormwater treatment and conveyance systems. Several new facilities including a pilot hall and RESEARCH ROUND UP Cranfield awarded £8.2M investment for water research infrastructure monitoring & control suite will complete the investment portfolio. Professor Sir Peter Gregson, Vice-Chancellor of Cranfield University said: "We are delighted to have been successful in securing this funding. Cranfield has an international reputation for pioneering research and education in water and sanitation. This investment in the infastructure will enhance the existing industrial-scale facilities for which Cranfield University is renowned." Professor Paul Jeffrey, Professor of Water Management at Cranfield, added: "The new facilities at Cranfield will enhance our research into the future of our most fundamental utility. Our expertise in water science is already well-established and these RISING UP Thames Water has announced that Martin Baggs has decided to step down as chief executive during 2016. Baggs, who has been a member of the company's board since 2006, was appointed chief executive in December 2009. He said that having spent all 30 years of his working life in the UK water industry, "now was the right time to look for new challenges". Thames chairman Sir Peter Mason said that the search for a new chief executive would begin in early 2016. Ofwat has confirmed that Jonson Cox has been reappointed as chair of the regulator until October 2020. The reappointment means that Cox will remain as chair throughout AMP6 and the forthcoming price review period (PR19). Max Joy has been appointed as new Managing Director for Grontmij from 1st March, replacing the interim MD Jeff Davitt. Joy joins Grontmij from the British army and is a chartered mechanical engineer, as well as a member of the evaluation board for chartered engineers in the UK. Grontmij in the UK will rebrand to Sweco in 2016. Two new service engineers have been appointed by AUMA Actuators Ltd. Steve Adams and Bill Armsden join the national UK field service team of the established supplier of modular electric actuators. Adams takes the post of AUMA UK Service Engineer for the South West while Armsden will be AUMA UK Service Engineer for the Midlands, with a territory that encompasses Yorkshire and East Anglia. facilities will allow us to advance our understanding of water infrastructure further." Research at the enhanced facility will focus on treatment and distribution processes; future technologies like low energy treatment and nutrient and energy recovery; condition monitoring and performance assessment including development of repair techniques which are less disruptive to supply; system-wide operation and control and integrated data systems. The investment forms a part of a wider UKCRIC package of £138M from the government with 100% matched funding from other sources. UKCRIC will work to provide a knowledge base to ensure the long- term functioning of the UK's transport, energy, water and waste management systems, networks and infrastructure. Professor Brian Collins, chairman of the UKCRIC Coordination Node from University College London, said: "UKCRIC is more than just another research project. This is the first step to creating long-term partnerships between the people who build our infrastructure, the people who regulate and fund it, the people who own and operate it and those of us who study how it works and is used." ● 24 Innovation Zone: SewerBatt ● 27 Digging Deeper: Big data ● 31 Getting to Grips: Tank corrosion ● 34 Consultant & Contractor file 28 Jan WWT Wastewater 2016 Conference, Birmingham. 9 Feb British Water House of Lords annual reception, London. 25 Feb WWT Water Northern Ireland Conference, Belfast. 17 Mar WWT Smart Networks Conference, Birmingham. COmING UP A low-energy seawater desalination plant to be built in Abu Dhabi is set to pave the way for the prospect of desalination that can be fully powered by solar renewable energy. SUEZ has started work on the Masdar City pilot plant at a site in Ghantoot, 90 kilometres from Abu Dhabi in the UAE, with work expected to take 18 months. The plant – which will use Dow Water and Process Solutions' Ultrafiltration and Reverse Osmosis membrane technologies and ADIONICS liquid to liquid deionisation technology, is expected to achieve a new mark for low energy consumption in a desalination plant. In parallel, SUEZ is conducting studies with the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology and ENGIE's technical competence centre Laborelec using solar power, in order to develop seawater desalination plants which can be fully powered by renewable energy. Solar desal plant moves closer

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