Sustainable filtration technology has ‘wider implications for UK water industry’

It is the first application of a glass-based filtration product in the UK and represents the culmination of several years of research on alternative filtration materials by the water company

Led by research consultancy WRc, the project identified crushed glass as a potentially cost-effective and sustainable alternative to the conventional use of sand as filtration media.

On-site trials by Affinity Water, which provides water services in the Southeast to more than 1.3 million customers, found that Glasmedia was the best option for its Egham plant on the basis of water quality and cost.

Affinity Water process engineering science manager Richard Lake said: “This application of recycled glass to filtration represents a milestone for Affinity Water, in terms of finding cost-effective, and yet sustainable, alternatives to conventional materials. It has wider implications for the UK water industry.”

Conor McGlone