The UK's rich history is reflected not only in its landscapes and architecture but also in its extensive sewer infrastructure, spanning over 100,000 kilometers and tracing back to the 1800s. As our population grows and climate change creates unpredictable weather patterns, our wastewater systems face an escalating challenge.
Across much of the UK, the sewerage network is set up as a ‘combined system’. This means that sewage water and surface water flow into the same pipe system before traveling to a treatment plant. Our underground conduits, designed to carry both rainwater from street drains and sewage from households are now faced with a higher volume than ever before. The consequence? The growing issue of storm overflows and their impact upon the environment.
When our combined sewer system becomes overwhelmed, and unable to handle the influx of sewage and rainwater, it creates a “storm overflow." This mechanism serves as a pressure release valve, when there is too much rainfall, allowing rainwater, mixed with sewage to rise inside the sewer and eventually enter a separate pipe which flows into a river and sea. Sewers operate in this way to preventing system failures and to help prevent flooding of streets, homes and businesses.
Xylem have a range of products and solutions that can support water utilities to predict and mitigate overflows. To learn more about how to measure the impact of spills, how to minimise their occurrence and where unavoidable how to treat the spill volume before it enters the receiving waters.