Tackling nutrient pollution without chemical dosing
Novel pellets adsorb phosphate from water in a simple, clean process
When nutrients are swept into water systems from sources such as sewage, manure, and fertiliser, they can cause environmentally damaging algal blooms through a process called eutrophication.
US startup Water Warriors is tackling this problem, focusing – for now – on one nutrient in particular: phosphorus. In the UK, only 45% of rivers and 25% of lakes achieve “good” ecological status for phosphorus levels according to government data last updated in January. And although there have been signs of improvement in recent years (since 2020 there has been a 30% reduction in phosphorus going into Lake Windemere), the nutrient represents a particular challenge for the UK water sector.
In the UK, only
of rivers and
of lakes achieve “good” ecological status for phosphorus levels
Water Warriors has created pellets that efficiently adsorb water-borne phosphate, a common phosphorus-containing chemical. Made from naturally occurring and sustainable mineral materials, these pellets are harmless to plants and wildlife and can be reused as a slow-release soil amendment for farming. This approach provides an alternative to the use of harsh chemicals, which themselves have an environmental impact.
The technology can be used in a variety of settings, treating water wherever it is flowing – from manmade channels and drains to natural lakes and streams. It can also be used to directly treat municipal, industrial, or agricultural wastewater effluents. Depending on the application, the pellets can be packaged into a variety of vessels and permeable containers including filter baskets and boom netting.
In October 2024, Marsh Industries announced a partnership with Water Warriors that granted the former exclusive supply and manufacturing rights for the pellets – known as Phos-Lite Pellets – in the UK and Ireland. The company will use them in a new sewage treatment plant system for the UK off-mains drainage sector. This system, it claims, will reduce phosphate levels to 0.2 milligrams per litre, far exceeding current environmental standards.
Did you know?
Water Warriors’ pellets reduce water-borne phosphate to the low levels required by increasingly stringent regulations. Crucially, these results can be achieved without chemical dosing, providing a more natural and sustainable alternative to traditional treatments. When the pellets are then used as a soil amendment, they also recycle phosphorus back to the land, where it is useful. Unlike nitrogen fertiliser, which can be synthesised from the air, phosphorus is a finite resource that could run into supply shortages in coming decades. Because of this, cost-effectively removing phosphate from water not only reduces pollution, but it also ensures we maximise the use of the phosphorus that we have already extracted.
Development stage Launched
Innovator website waterwarriorsinc.com
Innovator contact Schamberland@waterwarriorsinc.com
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