Pilot Plants for Micropollutant Testing
Ozone control system and generation plant
On-site water testing innovation
To improve the testing process for water samples, Curio, with Veolia Water Technologies & Solutions, has designed Curio Ozone: micropollutant pilot plants that can be installed on-site.
The compact plants collect and continuously analyse water samples in real-time, identifying the exact micropollutants present and providing data to guide the most effective ozone treatment, tailored to each location.
Using Curio Ozone
With our specially designed ozone control system and generation plant, we test and treat wastewater samples, recreating the treatment process of a full scale plant to ensure reliable results.
Ineffective testing
can result in unreliable data and uncertainty when making critical decisions, especially when planning for a full-scale micropollutant treatment system.
Challenges in traditional water sampling
Water samples are highly sensitive — they degrade quickly, there is a risk of contamination and micropollutants can react before they’re even tested.
Transporting them to off-site labs compromises accuracy and makes continuous monitoring nearly impossible.
Plug and Play
Our Curio Ozone pilot plants have been designed as ‘plug and play’ installations, based on our experience working in sites in Europe, and with Severn Trent in the UK, who now have micropollutant removal facilities operating for three bathing water sites.
Severn Trent’s Micropollutant Testing Experience
Curio Water partnered with Severn Trent to develop the UK’s first micropollutant removal plants as part of the water company’s £78 million water improvement project.
In preparation for the design of the plant, Severn Trent undertook water sampling testing, but faced challenges as micropollutant testing was relatively new ground.
Our latest innovation — the Curio Ozone pilot plant — now offers a more effective starting point that simplifies the testing process and ensures better and more cost-effective long-term results.
Regulatory & Industry
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Strengthening regulations increasingly require water companies to improve micropollutant monitoring and treatment.
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Accurate data is needed to inform future water treatment investments.
Technical
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Testing for micropollutants was new ground. A broad spectrum of micropollutants (PFAS, pharmaceuticals, pesticides) made testing complex.
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Bioaccumulation concerns — tracking build-up over time was difficult.
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The ‘cocktail effect’ — micropollutants interact continuously to form potentially more harmful compounds.
Severn Trent Challenges
Logistical
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Micropollutants degrade quickly — which means offsite lab testing can be difficult.
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Because of fluctuations in discharge — in this case ongoing agricultural waste — single samples are often insufficient.
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Varying composition of micropollutants made testing complicated.
Treatment
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Specialist support was needed to identify the right treatment approach based on the different micropollutants and water conditions.
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Treatment flexibility is needed to minimise capital and operational costs and adapt to future regulatory changes.
Curio Water's Role in Ozone Treatment Selection
Curio Water joined Severn Trent’s project after initial off-site laboratory testing had been carried out. Using its experience of treating wastewater with ozone on the continent, Curio interpreted the findings to suggest the right ozone treatment that would effectively tackle the scale and nature of the problem.
The results informed the design of the UK’s first micropollutant removal plant at Frankton, one of three sites that form part of a project to deliver water of bathing quality in the region.
A cost-effective solution to micropollutant testing
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Working with Veolia Water Technologies & Solutions, Curio has developed Curio Ozone pilot plants that can be used onsite to overcome the challenges in sampling for micropollutants.
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The plants can give real-time data, informing the subsequent ozone dosage and its combination with processes such as granular activated carbon (GAC) and moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR).
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The data produced enables companies to select the optimum treatment, minimising capital and operational costs over the long-term while offering the flexibility to respond to future legislation.
A ‘plug and play’ pilot plant continuously tests water quality and measures pollutants on site, capturing fluctuation in pollutant levels over time, informing future decisions on a full-scale plant design and optimising water treatment.
Real-time data collection
Informs the subsequent ozone dosage and its combination with agents such as granular activated carbon (GAC) and moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR).
Designed for flexibility across different sites
Minimises costs over the long-term
Enables futureproofing in advance of legislation
Helping UK water companies respond to regulation with confidence and optimise water treatment
