Industry

The challenge

Many of South Wales’ former mining areas continue to suffer from impoverished rivers due to mine water pollution. The high levels of iron and other metals are potentially damaging to the health and landscape of these communities.

Existing treatment methods such as settling ponds and reed beds can be highly effective, but are often not feasible since they require large areas of land. For mines where such space is not available, the Coal Authority needed a technique that would provide the same effective treatment, but with a much smaller footprint.

The solution

The treatment of landfill leachates is an important aspect of sustainable wastewater management to protect current and future generations’ health and environment. Although there are many potential wastewater treatment techniques, options for the treatment of leachates are generally limited due to their toxic nature and composition. In this research ozone-based advanced oxidation treatment techniques were studied and were found effective to treat a complex landfill leachate.

The challenge

Balmoral Tanks is based in Aberdeen and is a leading European designer and manufacturer of GRP, steel and cylindrical water tanks, sewage treatment plants, rainwater harvesting systems and fuel oil storage products.

The company saw an opportunity for new systems in the wastewater treatment market, ranging from small scale (single households) to larger commercial systems such as hotels. It was keen to develop new technologies that would, if successful, create new product ranges distinct from the rest of the market.

The challenge

Water pollution from abandoned mine workings is a global problem: it is estimated that 19,300 km of rivers in the USA and 5,000 km of rivers in Europe are affected by acid rock drainage. Treatment requires the installation of specialist systems to reduce acidity, dissolved metals and suspended solids before waters can be released into the environment.