By Professor Russell Davenport and Debbie Wilde, Newcastle University
The BEWISe facility is the first of its type in Europe to use bacteria in large-scale wastewater treatment research.
The facility is based at Northumbrian Water’s sewage treatment plant at Birtley, near Gateshead. It will play a key role in improving how sewage is treated by speeding up the transition from existing energy-intensive treatment processes to low carbon alternatives with lower running costs.
It allows researchers from around the globe to carry out experimental investigation of water engineering innovations across a range of scales which will set a new global standard for wastewater research.
We are a world-leading research space, developing cutting-edge solutions for sustainable wastewater treatment. Our facility includes pilot plants of conventional processes – trickling filters, activated sludge, adaptable tanks for low energy/passive treatment systems (e.g. for wetlands, stabilisation ponds, or tertiary treatment units such as filters), alongside two that can generate energy from wastewater, upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASBs) and microbial electrochemical fuel cell (MECs) – all in replicate.
Therefore, scientifically rigorous experiments can be conducted at an industrially credible scale, saving time and costs.
Addressing climate change
At BEWISe, Newcastle University and Northumbrian Water Group are working together to speed up innovation in sustainable wastewater treatment, not just for the region, but for the globe.
Current wastewater treatment processes can account for up to 1.5% of national electricity use. BEWISe will help relieve local environmental and social-economic impacts with low-cost innovations that convert energy-intensive wastewater treatment processes into resource-recovery factories that can also help low to middle income countries in the future.
Experiments will use low-energy biological treatment technologies and/or help to lower the costs of generating energy from waste.
Success stories at BEWISe
There are ongoing studies taking place at BEWISe, one of which is looking at generating hydrogen from wastewater (Microbial Electronic Fuel Cells).
Others include research into reducing UK trickling filter greenhouse gas process emissions and another has involved access to a continuous flow of untreated municipal wastewater at to enable the first systematic feasibility study of bacteria-based self-healing (BBSH) concrete (noted below).
Trial will reduce UK trickling filter process emissions
Haskoning is working with Newcastle University to deliver a collaborative industry funded project, to develop crucial understanding of the nitrous oxide emission factors and available mitigations for trickling filter wastewater treatment plants. This addresses a vital knowledge gap to support the water sector journey to Net Zero!
Like all industries, the water sector is challenged with decarbonising its operations to achieve Net Zero. A significant proportion of these emissions are derived from the production of the powerful greenhouse gases (GHG) nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4), within the wastewater and sludge treatment processes, with these having a CO2eq of 273 and 78 respectively.
Tackling process emissions from wastewater treatment works (WwTWs) will be essential if the UK water industry is to achieve its commitment to reduce GHG emissions in line with the Net Zero 2030 Routemap. This has been recognised with OFWAT providing additional funding under Net Zero Enhancement for baseline monitoring and to support the deployment of mitigation measures within AMP8.
N2O is produced in aerobic biological treatment processes as a by-product when nitrogen is oxidised. Suspended growth (activated sludge) type systems are employed on most medium to large WwTW’s and there has been a rapid increase in the understanding of the conditions that contribute to emissions from these within recent years. Monitoring of N2O in the liquid and/or gas phase can be used to calculate the mass of N2O based upon the airflow from the aeration of the process.
However, whilst trickling filter (TF) systems tend to be employed on smaller works, 25% of the UK’s wastewater is treated by these processes. To date it’s been almost impossible to quantify emissions accurately at full-scale sites due to the challenges of accurate gas measurement and quantification of the airflow which can passively rise (or sink) through the large surface area of the filter beds.
This means there’s virtually no accurate data on TF nitrous oxide (N2O) emission factors so the baseline carbon contribution from these sites is not understood. There is also little or no understanding of the causative conditions and available mitigations to reduce the emissions from these sites.
This leaves the UK’s water and sewerage companies (WASCs) exposed to an unknown level of risk. Without data, they can’t update their Carbon Accounting Workbook (a standardised guide for estimating operational GHG emissions) or identify appropriate mitigation, whether these be through operational changes or capital investment.
