Interested in finding out how Northumbrian Water are finding new ways to prevent algal blooms from damaging local ecosystems through the sustainable removal and recovery of phosphorous from wastewater?

Join Spring on Tuesday, 8th April, to find out how Northumbrian Water – with Northumbria University, the University of Newcastle, and Welsh Water – are trialling the use of an innovative loofah to remove and recover phosphorous from wastewater. This prevents it from causing damaging algal blooms which can suffocate local ecosystems.

Typically, phosphorus is removed using a chemical called ferric, which is a finite resource with reliability issues around supply, transport, and sustainability. Once removed, the phosphorus is not routinely recycled. Meanwhile, largely mined phosphorus is used as a fertiliser by farmers, causing further environmental damage; by 2050, its supply will be challenging.

The innovative ‘SuPR Loofah’ treatment system will embed micro-algae on a biodegradable loofah material and use this to capture phosphorous from wastewater to prevent it from impacting rivers and streams. As well as being a more affordable and sustainable process, this world-leading circular approach will generate a vital form of phosphorous for use as fertiliser – removing the reliance on phosphorus sourced through environmentally damaging methods and also remove the supply-chain-related reliability issues of ferric production and delivery.

Richard Warneford, Wastewater Director, Northumbrian Water Group said: “This innovative project has ground-breaking potential for the UK water sector and beyond. It plans to recover phosphorus from wastewater in a sustainable way that helps to ensure that impacts on receiving water courses are balanced. Using micro-algae to enhance phosphorus removal is truly exciting and will minimise the use of expensive chemicals like ferric and reduce impact on the environment.”

If your organisation wants to take action on phosphorous removal and recovery from wastewater in a way that achieves the industry’s circular economy goals, sign up today!