Sustainability is no longer a buzzword in the water industry – it’s a necessity. With growing pressures from climate change, population growth, and rising costs, companies are looking beyond traditional wastewater treatment. Increasingly, they are embracing resource recovery: the process of reclaiming valuable materials and energy from what was once considered waste.
What is Resource Recovery?
Resource recovery focuses on capturing value from wastewater by:
- Generating energy through anaerobic digestion and biogas production.
- Recovering nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen for use in fertilisers.
- Reusing water safely in agriculture, industry, or even as part of potable reuse schemes.
- Extracting valuable materials such as biosolids, which can be repurposed for land application.
This shift not only reduces environmental impact but also creates circular economy opportunities, making the sector more resilient and efficient.
Why Resource Recovery Matters
The shift towards resource recovery is fundamental to the industry’s long-term sustainability. The UK water sector has committed to achieving net zero carbon by 2030, and recovering energy and materials from wastewater plays a central role in meeting this target.
By turning treatment plants into resource factories, companies can cut operational costs, reduce their carbon footprint, and contribute to national sustainability goals. Nutrient recovery also supports agriculture by providing renewable fertiliser sources, while water reuse schemes help address growing concerns around scarcity.
In short, resource recovery allows the industry to transform a costly challenge into an opportunity that benefits the environment, the economy, and society.
Building the Skills to Deliver
To make resource recovery a reality, the sector needs skilled professionals who understand the complex treatment processes behind it. This requires knowledge in areas such as biological and chemical treatment processes, energy recovery and biogas systems, nutrient recovery technologies, and advanced monitoring and control systems.
That’s where apprenticeships and structured training become so important. The Water Industry Treatment Process Technician (Wastewater) Apprenticeship is designed to prepare the next generation of specialists. It provides apprentices with hands-on experience in operating and optimising wastewater treatment assets – the very systems at the heart of resource recovery.
Developing Capability for the Future
By investing in apprenticeships and upskilling opportunities, water companies can build teams with the technical expertise needed to harness resource recovery. Not only does this address skills shortages, but it also ensures the industry is equipped to meet sustainability targets and deliver innovation at scale.
At Watertrain, we’re committed to helping employers and learners develop the skills required to turn today’s wastewater into tomorrow’s resource.
Learn more about the Wastewater Treatment Process Technician Apprenticeship: https://www.watertrain.co.uk/water-industry-treatment-process-technician
To arrange a conversation, please contact info@watertrain.co.uk or call 03330 431 431.
