Until recently, partial or inadequate treatment of domestic and industrial waster water was common. As a result, pollution to rivers, groundwater and coastal waters was widespread. Within living memory, (mine) the rivers in the woollen district of Yorkshire were covered in banks of multi-coloured foam from wool washing and dyeing.

Thankfully, this is no longer the case. Legislation, both within the UK and from the EU together with wider environmental awareness has changed perception and practice in disposal of water-borne waste, and the rivers in the UK have improved beyond all recognition. Effluent standards are both more stringent and more widely enforced, and the penalties for transgressions can be substantial.

Sewage discharged to the public sewers is treated by the Water Service Companies, but there are thousands of sources of polluted water which are not connected to the public sewer. These include individual properties, housing estates, industry, motorway service areas. One factory we dealt with recently generates a pollution load equivalent to a city of 400,000 population which is treated on site.

Modern treatment plants can meet the challenge of producing an effluent acceptable to the authorities and the environment we all share. We design and inspect these plants for Water Service Companies, local authorities, housing associations, industry and individual householders.

Municipal wastewater treatment Private sewage disposal Industrial effluent treatment Sewage treatment