Affinity Water has awarded Black & Veatch a contract to help manage water quality at one of Affinity Water’s water treatment works (WTW) in Hertfordshire, England – with metaldehyde a particular focus.

Affinity Water’s process selection contract will help identify the best route to address metaldehyde - a highly problematic chemical for water companies to remove from their raw water resources.

The project will investigate different technologies to manage levels of pesticides, particularly metaldehyde from agricultural practices in raw water. Metaldehyde is the primary ingredient of agricultural pesticides used to manage slugs which is difficult to remove through conventional pesticide treatment.

This will be achieved by creating a new treatment stream at Affinity Water Treatment Works.

 “Black & Veatch is recognised for its water treatment capability not only in UK, but globally. This means we are very well placed to help Affinity Water become among the first UK water companies to address levels of metaldehyde pesticides,” said Scott Aitken, Managing Director, Black & Veatch, Water, Europe.

The key objective of the project is to gather the data necessary to make a technology selection for an innovative treatment process. Conceptual and then detailed design will follow, resulting in a planning application for the new-build phase of the project.

Black & Veatch’s initial role will be a pilot and jar testing programme comparing two technologies’ effectiveness at removing metaldehyde from raw water. Once the trials are complete, this information will be used to assist Affinity Water in developing a treatment strategy for the site.

The work, awarded on an NEC Professional Services Contract, encompasses engineering and project management services. The initial phase of the contract will last approximately 30 weeks.