Wastewater contains high levels of nutrients—particularly phosphorus—that can pose serious risks to infrastructure and the environment. Excess phosphorus is the most common reason water bodies fail to achieve ‘good’ ecological status.
As a result, many treatment works will need to meet phosphorus limits as low as 0.25 mg/L during AMP8, with even tighter thresholds likely for Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs).
To remove phosphorus effectively, it must first be converted to a solid form before being separated from the liquid—achieved through chemical or biological treatment.
Proven Solutions for Phosphorus Mitigation
Xylem offers a comprehensive portfolio and expert guidance to support new treatment plants, retrofits, upgrades, and sustainable nutrient recovery projects.
Our innovative ballasted clarification systems use magnetite - fully inert iron ore particles - to ballast biological floc or conventional chemical floc, delivering:
- Enhancing settling rates - up to 10 times faster than conventional methods
- Measured phosphorus limits as low as 0.1 mg/l
- Smaller footprint and reduced chemical use, lowering overall costs
- A more sustainable approach with minimal chemical consumption
Ostara's Nutrient Recovery Solution from Xylem turns phosphorus challenges into opportunities. Recovering phosphorus lowers the impact on local waterways through reducing effluent levels and producing a high value fertilizer that reduces nutrient runoff.
Phosphorus management can help contribute to a future circular economy
