E&T Mag: Technology solutions to the sewage scandal

Raw sewage in our seas and rivers is, understandably, causing outrage. Flood waters even bring that sewage into our homes. What technology could the industry use to clear the waters?

Working for a water company, you get used to bearing the brunt of public fury, says Dr Nick Mills, an engineer at Southern Water. Where people were once curious, they’re now livid. “I get it – of course people are angry.” 

Small wonder. On any given day, anti-sewage apps still ping with warnings of spills – urbanisation, torrential rain and decades of underinvestment have pushed a creaky system beyond its limits. 

Mills, who heads Southern Water’s Clean Rivers and Seas Task Force, and his team are on a mission to find out where the water is coming from and stop the spills – with new technology, smarter use of existing infrastructure and better use of nature. This is harder than it sounds. Water companies often don’t have access rights to the streets and sites where the rain falls, and red tape can delay action. 

Read the story here:

https://eandt.theiet.org/2024/07/09/technology-solutions-sewage-scandal