Water & Wastewater Treatment Magazine
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8 | MAY 2018 | WWT | www.wwtonline.co.uk The Talk: opinion JAMES BROCKETT, EDITOR, WWT Loch mess? Scottish Water's row with Highland residents over the appropriate wastewater treatment for a Loch illustrates the environmental dilemmas faced in the industry I t's not oen that a utility's choice of wastewater treatment technology raises the passions enough to inspire protest among members of the public, so perhaps we should celebrate recent events at Gairloch in the Scottish Highlands, where Scottish Water has been forced into a rethink of an application to amend a discharge license for one of its treatment works. The utility had proposed the use of UV treatment on sewage for five months of the year in the bathing season; for the rest of the year, sewage was to be treated by settling tanks and then discharged. SPONSORED BY SDS MARK MANNING BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER SDS LIMITED SuDS: Time for a Paradigm Shi ? It's time for a rethink on the perception of SuDS and how we can achieve a more sustainable approach to surface water W ater companies have a huge stake in how surface water is managed. Their sewer networks carry the stormwater load and are the last line of defence against flooding during heavy storms. At the same time, rainwater collection and re-use is their stock-in-trade. So, it would be logical, would it not, for them to be in the vanguard of any attempts to prevent surface water from entering the network in the first place? More so than ever, given the challenges of over-capacity. Yet, neither regulation nor resources have encouraged Water and Sewerage Companies (WASCs) to own and adopt surface water assets and, in particular, Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) The proposals brought protests, including toilets being placed on the beach, with locals calling for UV to be used throughout the year. Now, Scottish Water has said that, in order to "allow open and constructive engagement with local stakeholders to take place", it has withdrawn its application to amend its discharge licence and will engage further with the local community through discussions in a new stakeholder group. It's clear that environmental water quality means an unusual amount to the people of Gairloch, which is undoubtedly a particularly attractive part of the UK and a place where natural beauty is a key part of its appeal to residents and tourists. Whether or not those protesting are fully clued up on the merits of the treatment processes involved – and it is down to the water company to educate them on this – the impression has been given that the preferred solution represents a downgrade, and their willingness to stand up for their local water should be applauded. However, spare a thought for Scottish Water on this issue: it can hardly be accused of disregarding the environment in the past. Instead, organisational culture has focused around the separate streams of potable supply and wastewater collection and treatment. So, what is sustainable drainage? In order to answer this question, think about what unsustainable drainage looks like: directing rainwater into sewers causes flood risk, unnecessary levels of wastewater treatment and the potential for pollution via combined sewer overflows. Opportunities to collect and recycle rainwater at source are missed while heavily-treated water is conveyed over long distances and used for non-potable purposes. Of course, this is precisely the disconnected paradigm our industry has got used to. The water industry is not generally known for its agility when it comes to paradigm shis. However, WASCs are now uniquely placed to take a greater role in surface water management – and they should seize the opportunity. WASCs understand the principles of precision engineering and how to deliver practical, achievable solutions to time and budget. Those are pretty good qualifications for greater involvement in SuDS. The incentives for owning and operating surface water assets and integrating SuDS into the existing network are clear. The capital costs of expanding sewer capacity and treatment are saved and customers can be offered rewards for saving water and even for since Scottish environmental regulator SEPA had already noted that the plans would not result in a deterioration of the good status of the bathing waters in question. Moreover, the decision not to use all-year round UV treatment was not based on penny-pinching but concerns over sustainability: the system uses relatively high amounts of energy and it was seen as disproportionate to have it running all year. This, in microcosm, illustrates the dilemma faced by many involved in not only wastewater treatment but environmental work generally. Should the environment be given the highest possible protection, even if it means expending more energy and burning more fossil fuels in order to do so? How good is 'good enough' when it comes to the environment – and should local spending priorities be decided by which set of residents care the most and shout loudest about it? Rural areas may be the most beautiful, but they also contain smaller populations; as long as standards are being met, there is a place for lower-tech, low-energy, sustainable solutions. disconnecting downpipes. Building and adopting SuDS helps to build greater resilience – a key requirement of PR19. The good news is that regulatory changes are clearing the way for WASCs to own and adopt more SuDS as part of the updated Sewers for Adoption 8. There are also new opportunities for WASCs to offer infrastructure charge discounts to developers in return for including water saving measures or avoiding surface water discharge to sewers. Growing use of 'smart' technologies will enhance the SuDS 'toolbox' and WASCs are already at the forefront of that developing expertise. Remote monitoring will be integral to controlling performance and maintaining surface water assets effectively. Crucially, smart controls will also prove central to solving the nonsensical disconnect between drainage and water conservation by linking stormwater storage facilities to opportunities for rainwater harvesting and re-use. WASCs are well placed to lead the paradigm shi. Supported by the right regulatory framework and technological know-how, they should contribute fully to a multi-agency, catchment-wide approach to surface water management. Published in association with SDS, WWT Explains… SuDS is a comprehensive guide available to download via the resources section of wwtonline.co.uk. www.sdslimited.com