Wastewater Innovation Forum

SB gave a brief update on the latest ROCKs.

Alice Horton has completed the ROCK – Microplastics in the Freshwater Environment. Although not part of our forum, Dr W. White has completed a ROCK on Flood Mitigation.

There has been approval from the Council for a new ROCK for Anti-microbial resistance.

BH asked how we could promote the ROCKs to ensure that they get good readership, and whether there is any budget for publicity. Should we consider an article in WWT? We need to consider how a ROCK on AMR would be publicised.

BH/SB to take away an action to think about publicity.

AS mentioned that Cranfield University is running the UK-IWA Young Professionals Conference – Towards a Resilient Water Future, on 16th to 18 April 2018.This is a conference that is supported by the FWR.

The overall content of the Autumn 2017, and Winter 2017/2018 were reviewed. The lead articles were “Spotlight on DWI” by Phil Smart from the Drinking Water Inspectorate, and “Discovering unseen biodiversity in our water – Does eDNA hold the key”, by Vicky Rhodes and Kerry Walsh from the Environment Agency. The Wastewater Matters column included articles on Opening up of the sludge market”, and “21st Century Drainage”.

Over the last year, as well as the new ROCK on Microplastics in the Freshwater Environment, the Newsletter has included three articles on microplastics; “Microplastics” by Steve Bungay, “Microplastics: How big a threat” by Alice Horton, and “Microplastics. Micropollutants… …what’s the problem” by Maxine Forshaw.

There were no changes to the website other than the addition of the details of speakers from our last meeting, which included Tom Stanton from the University of Nottingham, and Pratik Desai from the University of Sheffield.

It was highlighted that the links to the archive presentations and ROCKs did not always work. GJ took an action to look at this.

The forum twitter account @F4WaterResearch is slowly getting more followers. From the previous meeting the number of followers had increased from 79 to 230 followers. SB manages the account. It requires a password to access, and Twitter identifies any devices used to access the account. Most of the tweets are from conferences that SB has attended, or retweets from other people.

1. Microplastics
2. Anti Microbial Resistance
3. Chemical Investigations Programme
4. Unflushables
   
   

AH and Laura Grant (ex CIWEM, now House of Commons) were interviewed by Tom Heap on “Costing the Earth” on radio 4, talking about microplastics. The programme highlighted that microfibres from clothes are a key component of microplastics and nanoparticles.

CIWEM have a Policy Position Statement (PPS) on microplastics.

BH mentioned that there is an UKWIR project looking at microplastics in drinking water and wastewater, and this will feed into the Chemical Investigations Programme and National Environment Programme.

SB to speak with AH to see if we should be considering a future article on microfibres.

Andrew Wheatley is potentially retiring, so we need to identify another member to front this area of focus.

Prof Jason Snape – AstraZeneca presenting today on Pharmaceuticals in the Environment and Anti-microbial resistance. BH had proposed him as a speaker, and his presentation was excellent. Jason has also agreed to write a lead article for the Newsletter, and the possibility of a ROCK has been mentioned to him.

As highlighted earlier, we need to try a new strategy with publicising a potential ROCK on AMR. AS suggested that we consider the FWR having a Wikipedia page. SP to look into what the requirements for this is.

The third and fourth tranches of work are underway. The information coming out of these will affect decisions on further investigations and permitting. The technology trials have highlighted the uncertainty of meeting the requirements of CIP. There needs to be a better understanding of the mechanisms of the removal of chemicals.

BH agreed to present at the next meeting on CIP3 (BH or Gill Bellamy - EA).

NO and PV not able to attend today. Unflushables remain an area of focus that we will move on to. In the upcoming Aqua Enviro European Wastewater Management Conference, due to the number of abstracts received, there will be a full day on catchment and networks.

PV/NO to provide information/update on extract blockages/SNAP group.

BH to speak with Phil Hulme, who is the EA lead on catchment and networks.

AS is involved with a European initiative on low temperature anaerobic wastewater treatment. Cranfield University are involved with a joint research project including Severn Trent Water, Anglian Water, Scottish Water, and Thames Water. Carlos de Lemos Chernicharo (Federal University of Minas Gerais) and Jules Van Lier (Delft University) are also working on this project.

Severn Trent Water will be building a pilot plant in 2019.

Catchment and networks remains a key area of focus. This is inked in with “Unflushables”. As mentioned above, BH to speak with Phil Hulme from the EA.

The total membership is currently 36. Of this, there are 19 active members and 17 corresponding members. The latest members are Ana Soares, Cranfield University, Tim Holloway, Portsmouth University, and Russell Frost, FWR. Of the active members, two water companies, three universities, two consultancies, two research consultancies, two regulators, and three independent consultants, are represented.

1. BH/SB To consider publicity for future ROCKS
2. GJ To check/investigate the hyperlinks to the archive Newsletters and the ROCKs.
3. SB Speak to AH about microfibres
4. SP To look at requirements for Wikipedia
5. BH To speak to Phil Hulme about catchment and networks / 21st Century Drainage.
6. PV/NO Provide information/update on extract blockages/SNAP group
7. ALL Suggestions for presentations
   Suggestions for new members