UK's First Energy Self-Sufficient Large Sewage Works

Yorkshire Water are embarking on a multi-million pound project to create the UK's first energy neutral urban sewage plant.

Starting today, this £30 million project will involve installing the UK's first BioThelys Sludge Treatment Plant at Esholt sewage works, which will be used to create energy from human waste and effluent.

The Esholt works has operated a sewage sludge incinerator for many years, but Yorkshire Water is pioneering a more sustainable route for sludge disposal using Veolia's thermal hydrolysis system (Biothelys) combined with anaerobic digestion.

Thermal hydrolysis uses heat and pressure to break down sewage sludge prior to treatment by anaerobic digestion which creates energy rich biogas that can then be burned to produce electricity which in turn will be used to power much of the plant.

As the bio-gas is rich in methane, it means that it can be converted to electricity and directly used to power the site, the process is carbon efficient and means the plant is not reliant on mains electricity, further reducing costs.

Not only does the process create green energy to fuel the plant, but the digested sludge generated following thermal hydrolysis is classified as 'enhanced treated' which means it can be legally applied as a fertiliser or soil conditioner for all crops including cereals, vegetables and salads as well as for horticultural purposes.

Engineering specialists Morgan Sindall and Grontmij will be undertaking the work, with the new plant estimated to take around 18 months to complete, and is expected to be commissioned in early 2013.

Ben Roche, Manager of energy and carbon at Yorkshire Water, comments:

"At the moment we already generate a third of the energy we use on site at Esholt through renewable energy technologies, but our aim is for this huge facility to become fully energy self-sufficient by 2015."

Turning Waste Into House Bricks

Forget clay and concrete! The new innovative project up and running at Yorkshire Water's Knostrop waste water treatment works in Leeds is turning incinerated sewage into carbon neutral house bricks.

With our massive emphasis on driving down environmental emissions, the new product devised by Leeds University spin-out company Encos, hopes to reduce the environmental impact of construction by providing an alternative to traditional cement.

How does it work?

It combines ash from incinerated sludge with vegetable-oil-based binders to create the bricks and blocks. These are classed as carbon negative because the plants used to make the vegetable oil have absorbed CO2 from the atmosphere.

Want to know more about the house bricks?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-15006749

Fat Busting Bugs

The new Yorkshire Water biological weapon has been unleashed! We’ve recently announced an innovative treatment process for helping to remove sewer fat.

Deploying trillions of what we call ‘Fat Busting Bugs’, we’re able to remove the fat, oils and grease that clog the sewer. It works by using organically grown bacillus bacteria, which is commonly found in the human gut, to feast on the fat, oils and grease, with the bacteria being mixed with non-chlorinated water before being poured into the sewer.


People who put fat, oils and grease down their sink often don't appreciate the damaging impact this can have on the region's watercourses.These fats, oils and greases can solidify, causing sewers to back up and spill over into nearby rivers, streams and becks. Also, the worst case is that it could potentially lead to your home being flooded, which is the last thing we want!

Have a look at what you should and shouldn’t put down your sinks.
www.yorkshirewater.com/dirty.

Want to see the Fat Bugs in action?
Fat Busting Bugs Video