UK-based Typhon Treatment Systems has won its first major contract with a publically traded UK water utility for the supply of its new ultraviolet (UV) LED water treatment technology. The firm’s system is seemingly one of the first in the world capable of using UV from LEDs to neutralise harmful microorganisms on an industrial scale. Typhon’s long-term supply contract with United Utilities follows the world’s first large scale operational trial of the technology at a United Utilities water treatment works in the North of England.
The two companies have been working together since the technology’s potential came to light as part of a worldwide innovation program United Utilities launched in 2017. This industry support, in combination with UK government grants and venture capital funding have enabled Typhon to progress from the laboratory to commercial production. Typhon, founded in 2014, is now launching the product worldwide as a unique, cost-effective, low-maintenance UV water treatment system, which could eventually render traditional mercury UV lamps obsolete.
Water and wastewater utilities use UV to treat for microorganisms or help remove taste and odour from drinking water and also, in separate installations, to treat bacteria in wastewater before returning it to the environment.
Head of Innovation at United Utilities, Kieran Brocklebank said: “Until now the only way of using it to treat the huge volumes we need has been using traditional technology that uses mercury in glass bulbs. But with the potential to be up to 90% more energy efficient, as well as more reliable, easier to maintain and safer, Typhon’s new LED version was a brilliant idea we wanted to see developed.”
Director of Water and Scientific Services, Dr Martin Padley said: “We really believed in this technology and we’ve helped Typhon prove it works for the water industry. It’s great to have signed a long-term contract, which means we can use this novel kit in our next five-year investment period not just to treat drinking water more reliably and at lower cost for our customers, but also potentially to treat some of the cleaned wastewater we return to the environment as well,” he said.
Welcoming the contract Typhon Treatment Systems CEO Peter McNulty said: “We can’t overstate the importance of UU’s support to the development of our technology. This first commercial contract is the culmination of years of hard work and dedication from our team and theirs. We look forward to continued cooperation with UU, and we are excited about delivering this technology worldwide.”
