Southern Water wastewater treatment sites use automatic Boll filtration systems to ensure the primary screen washwater filtration, enabling compliance with stringent industry regulations.

Set deep in the heart of rolling Sussex countryside, the Southern Water Vine Cross wastewater treatment plant had a particular issue with build up of solids in the washwater system. Loss of the washwater system resulted in the crude sewage inlet screens becoming fouled. Final effluent from the humus tanks, which is used to keep the inlet screens clean as well as for general washwater, requires filtration to protect the high pressure multi-stage washwater pump from becoming blocked with particulates, such as algae and sludge particles.

However, the manual strainers, which required daily cleaning, were causing blockages in the system.

A similar problem had been solved at East Worthing WTW by the installation of an automatic Boll filtration system and, after liaising with the Southern Water process scientists, Morrison Utility Services recommended investing in a similar system at Vines Cross WTW.

The Bollfilter system is a low pressure installation comprising a Boll 6.18 automatic self-cleaning filter with independent backflush pump fitted on the water inlet to the waste water pump.

The unit, which operates at pressures of between 0.5 and 1 bar, is set up to automatically clean once an hour.

Ideal for remote water sites, Boll systems feature unique backflushing technology to ensure reliable, efficient filtration with minimal maintenance and without the need for regular cleaning.

Jon Moss, part of Morrison Utility Services, is pleased with the performance of the new system.

He commented: 'Compliance issues are always urgent and Bollfilter was able to provide a suitable system without delay.

The two operators based at Vines Cross, who are also responsible for a number of other sites, no longer have to take time every day to clean the manual strainers.'