Recycled Glass As Water Filtration Being Tested In The UK

Yorkshire Water is testing a filtration medium that uses recycled glass media instead of traditional sand at its sewage works.

Preliminary trials show the use of the recycled glass filtration media removed as much as 70 percent of the solids.

Andrew Calvert, Yorkshire Water research and development optimization manager, said: “Our tests, carried out between November 2004 and June this year, demonstrated RGFM is a suitable alternative to utilizing sand and as or more slightly more effective in removing suspended solids.

“Unlike sand, the recycled glass showed no tendency to clog up, or ‘blind’, when faced with high loadings of suspended material and could help remedy this problem.

An initial pilot trial at the Malton plant compared the various types of RGFM available – all manufactured to BSI PAS 102 specifications – with sand. The medium grade of material proved the most similar.

The full trial including this material took place in a test rig, erected alongside the existing filtration system at the works, so day-to-day efficiency was not impaired. The rig used 3-12mm glass bead as a bedding material, with 600kg of recycled glass sand laid on top.

“The trial results show recycled glass is a highly suitable medium for tertiary solids removal and we will now use it at our sites.”