Severn Trent Services, Analytical Services division is playing a key role in the UK Water Industry Chemical Investigation Programme (CIP), providing analysis to some of the UK’s leading water companies.
Severn Trent Services will be analyzing over 8,000 wastewater samples for customers including Yorkshire Water Services Ltd, Thames Water Utilities, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, Southern Water and Scottish Water, as well as sampling for some customers. To meet the requirements of the programme, samples of sewage influents, sewage sludge, primary and final effluent will be analysed. In addition samples from industrial, commercial and domestic properties will be analysed to identify sources of potential pollutants.
The programme, which has been developed by the UK water industry, working in collaboration with United Kingdom Water Industry Research (UKWIR), the Environment Agency and other regulators, has been designed to support the UK’s understanding of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and its potential impact with respect to the control of hazardous substances. It will include the investigation of over 45 target substances, including metals, industrial chemicals, biocides, pharmaceuticals and endocrine disruptors.
The first stage of the programme will determine if discharge of treated effluents could result in any of these substances exceeding Environmental Quality Standards, set out in the WFD. Where Environmental Quality Standards are exceeded, the Environment Agency will be responsible for identifying a Programme of Measures (POMs) to meet compliance. Proportional and effective POMs will be developed by identifying the sources of pollution and future stages of the programme will attempt to identify the source of any specific pollutants. The programme will also seek to identify potential water treatment options to remove pollutants from wastewater streams.
The overall aim of the Chemical Investigation Programme is to provide a sound and technically justifiable basis for future measures to be taken that achieve good ecological status, in line with WFD requirements. The analysis provided by Severn Trent Services will be fundamental to the programme.
The analytical services group is the United Kingdom’s leading environmental testing organization. For further information www.stsanalytical.com
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