Essex & Suffolk Water – which provides water services to 1.8 million people – has chosen CDEnviro equipment to replace its existing sand treatment system fitted in 1998 at its water treatment works in Langham and Ormesby.
The new CDEnviro treatment systems will be installed at both water treatment works this year. The systems will provide a consistent supply of clean, dry filter sand which is uniform in size and meets all the requirements for slow sand filtration media; used to purify water.
Slow sand filtration has been a reliable method of water purification in the UK for approximately 150 years, requiring no chemicals or electricity to operate. The process takes place over a large surface area, with both water treatment works having up to twelve large beds, and involves the formation of a biofilm of living organisms on top of a fine layer of sand. The sand and biolayer is submerged in water, allowing the organisms to eat potentially harmful pathogens while clean, potable water filters through the sand.
An important part of the slow sand filter purification process is maintaining the cleanliness of the sand to ensure clean water and an optimum rate of flow through the filter. At the Langham works, the filter is drained and the sand is skimmed off and washed before being laid back down again allowing a new biofilm to develop.
Fred Aujoux, Asset Delivery Programme Manager at Essex & Suffolk Water, said: “Our investment in this new technology reflects our sustainable approach and will ensure a more efficient process and help to secure water supplies for our customers through improved and reliable equipment. This new sand treatment process will allow us to continue with this traditional method of water purification; a method which we consider to be the most sustainable, low-energy solution for water purification while protecting future generations”.
Adrian Convery, Business Development Manager, CDEnviro, said, “We work closely with our customers to design the best solutions for their needs. We’re proud that our technology will enable Essex & Suffolk Water to provide a reliable and sufficient supply of clean water for its customers for many years to come.”
