Our Research

All UKWIR projects are available below and by default are ordered by date commenced descending (most recent first). Various search options are available via the side-bar.

Should you wish to see a list of all research projects completed under a particular research topic (e.g. Drinking Water), then please go to our Research Topic Catalogues via this button. They will provide you with a full list of projects completed for that research topic and a short summary of each project. Just select the topic that is of interest.

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Available Projects: 44

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Project Commenced

UKWIR Reference
WW1259

Big Question / Topic
BQ06 Sewerage
Wastewater Treatment & Sewerage

Read Report/s & Resume/s  

BQ06 - FOG Charging - Should foodservice wastewater charges reflect FOG content?

Problem

Currently there are approx. 500,000 FSE kitchens in the UK which discharge wastewater to the public sewer network, this includes approx. 55,000 takeaway only kitchens. All wastewater from FSE’s is currently considered ‘domestic in nature’ as it is considered similar to household kitchen sink & dishwasher discharges, however the loading/concentration of FOG & Foodwaste in FSE discharges is far greater than the domestic levels.

Although there have been fish and chip shops since the 19th century, due to societal shifts there has been a significant increase in FSEs, particularly in urban areas. The largest increase has not been in what could be considered as traditional restaurants, but in smaller establishments, typically fast food and/or takeaways.

Most fast-food outlets have been established in vacated shop premises as the function of a town or city centre has changed from shopping to a social and cultural ‘centre’ where friends and family meet to eat & drink.

Consumption of food at these establishments is different to traditional restaurants as often there is no space for consumption on-site or there is no crockery or cutlery (e.g., McDonalds) but floors, surfaces and equipment are still washed down, and the wastewater goes to sewer. This means that sinks, dishwashing, and ware-washing equipment in the kitchens are used as they produce a reduced volume of wastewater, but with a higher grease intensity.

In addition, traditional restaurants, and the newer trend of ‘dark or ‘ghost’ kitchens (those that provide take-out food with no retail service on the premises and operated by platforms such as Uber Eats, Just Eat & Deliveroo), also contribute to the operational risk of sewerage wholesalers.

In the UK, Document H1, section 2.21 of Building Regulations states any commercial premises that is serving food and is connected to the mains drainage system ‘should’ be fitted with a grease trap or separator. When build costs rise and savings need to be made, the ‘should’ will always be dropped.

Impact

Southern Water has 28,000 FSE’s (commercial kitchens) in its area – Southern Water data presents that circa 60-70% of blockages have some FOG content…… with 15% of our annual blockage number (20,000) being purely FOG. All Water and Sewerage Companies (WaSC’s) have similar figures.
The impact of FSE FOG to the sewer system was highlighted during lockdown for Covid19 – wastewater treatment works (WTWs) reported a huge drop in FOG on inlet screens despite the domestic level of ‘background FOG’ still being there or in fact raised. Thus, proving the FSE FOG volume and content in their wastewater is the substantive cause of the ‘Fatbergs’ we are seeing, and having a massive impact on businesses, their customers, and their neighbours – not to mention the costs involved and the threat to the environment.

The environment is impacted significantly because of odours, blockages, floods, CSO use, and pollution attributable to FOG discharges to the public sewer.

The principle that the ‘producer pays’ for correct disposal of any waste is supported by the Environment Agency, and suitable FSE charging tariffs would align with this ethos in the Water Industry. Currently all household customers (and other commercial customers) are being charged to cover increased discharge costs relating to FSEs. The incentive for the FSE owner/operator would be risk-based charging to promote behaviour change.

The Water Act 2014 – Sections 16 & 143 (A though E) has not addressed the control of discharges or any behaviour changing or variable tariffs. Customer charging is considered the leading approach in the absence of  robust ‘regulatory or legislative’ methods of ensuring all FSE’s fit some grease management to prevent FOG discharge. Financial incentive places the responsibility on the FSE owner/operator to respond and change their behaviour/installations or pay higher risk-based charges.

Project

The implementation of FSE tariffs following this project is likely to result in the end user (FSE owner/operators) demanding commercial innovation and invention to provide more efficient and effective grease management systems to lower their wastewater charges and collect the maximum amount of FOG, which would in turn feed the circular economy as detailed in the Defra ‘Plan for Water’. This in turn could produce carbon credits for the producer, collector, and user of the FOG – which would support Net Zero challenges.

Currently the grease management industry is unregulated, but this project would help drive an improvement in honest disclosure of the efficiency of grease management equipment to the end users. This would be additionally supported by new standards that are being written for testing grease management at BSi – PAS 409 & 406.

These charging changes will also lead to the overall reduction of FOG discharged to sewer, thus reducing the sewerage wholesaler risk of odours, blockages, floods, and pollution.

Project Outputs

  • Project report summarising the findings – with executive summary of recommendations.
  • Engagement and dissemination event for the UK and Northern Ireland Water Sector.
  • Effective, innovative, and efficient grease management installed in all FSE’s
  • Recommendations and risk-based charging included in PR24 business case
  • Effective risk-based charging supported by Ofwat for AMP8
  • Support for the growing circular economy
  • Support for a regulated grease management industry 


Project Status
Project Commenced

UKWIR Reference
WW1242

Big Question / Topic
BQ05 Wastewater

Read Report/s & Resume/s  

Wastewater Briefings & Alerts - continuation of service

To assist the UK and Irish Water Industry in positioning itself for the future, UKWIR seeks to obtain advance notice of issues likely to impact the business of the UK and Irish Water Industry.  Such information will enable the industry to be aware of new and developing issues and to respond to them with authority. It will also prevents duplication of research work, thus directing expenditure on research in a more focused manner.



Project Status
Project Commenced

UKWIR Reference
DW1225

Big Question / Topic
BQ04 Drinking water

Read Report/s & Resume/s  

Water Quality Events Database - continuation of service

The objective of the project is to maintain and further develop the functionality of the Database as an effective communication and analysis tool for events.

It provides a platform for company users to:

  • Assist risk assessment for DWSPs
  • Improve communications between companies
  • Notify companies of hazardous situations
  • Sharing and learning


Project Status
Project Commenced

UKWIR Reference
CL1188

Big Question / Topic
BQ10 Carbon
Carbon

Read Report/s & Resume/s  

Calculating wholelife / totex carbon

The objective is to have better knowledge of methods for integrating assessments of capital and operational carbon emissions and being able to show external stakeholders that the sector is able to address the former as well as the latter



Project Status
Project Commenced

UKWIR Reference
DW1223

Big Question / Topic
BQ04 Drinking water

Read Report/s & Resume/s  

BQ4-B03b Controlling water chemistry to improve drinking water quality and minimising brominated disinfection by-products

Over the last 20 years, the kinetics of HAA formation have been well described and modelled with reaction rates and types observed and reported. General findings are that the levels of brominated HAAs are not linearly related to bromide levels indicating that other factors are influential. Reported studies are observational and descriptive and manipulation of the kinetics has not been reported in the literature.

The initial formation of HOBr and the incorporation of bromine into DBPs will be investigated at a fundamental level to advance the understanding of the reactions and the influencing factors.
The novelty of this work is in investigating the potential for manipulation of the reaction kinetics. This project will provide an understanding of how manipulating the kinetics and thermodynamics of Br-DBP formation influences the distribution and mass of DBPs formed.
This project will allow water companies to develop holistic strategies for DBP management to meet current and future regulatory requirements, especially for the Br-HAAs.

Current strategies are to reduce organic levels to reduce DBPs. This works well for the currently regulated THMs, but has been shown to increase Br-DBPs particularly HAAs. Through consideration of chemical interactions from source to tap, this project will allow the interaction of organic carbon, bromide and chlorine to be assessed. The information on these reactions will inform the best approach to minimise formation of these compounds; this could inform decisions on catchment/resource management as well as on future investment in infrastructure.

The influence of the impending HAA standards coupled with an increase in source water organics in upland sources from soil erosion and in lowland water from algae is leading water companies to invest in solutions to reduce DBP formation. These investments can include new plant such as ion-exchange processes for organics removal, reservoir treatment to reduce algal blooms and catchment management solutions to manage organics levels in the water.
Understanding current HAA levels and the potential for reducing brominated HAAs through manipulation of kinetics will allow the investments to be targeted to ensure resilience in meeting regulatory requirements