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Total suspended solids stabilised in wastewater trial

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The success of a four-month trial of a filtration technology at a Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water wastewater treatment plant shows that the modified system, first developed for the aquatic market, can help sites meet challenging phosphorus consents. 

The Flocell XFM5 modular filtration system was installed at a rural water utility wastewater treatment plant (WwTP) in Llansaint, Powys, and has demonstrated a reduction in total suspended solids (TSS) of up to 75% on average. 

The collaboration between Marlowe Environmental Services (formally WCS Environmental Engineering) and Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water has set a precedent for targeted TSS removal at WwTPs with persistent consent challenges. 

Robust testing

The Flocell XFM5 was introduced to keep consistent low levels of TSS to meet its consent of 46mg/l. 

The site has processing capacity for a population equivalent of 435 with 3/ls of wastewater. One Flocell XFM5 unit with one modular filter, capable of flows of up to 5l/s, was delivered to site in a 3m (10ft) container and installed in June 2025.  

The model was specifically chosen by Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water as the capacity of the unit matched the flow rates at the facility and the containerised unit could run at different flow rates for robust testing during the trial.  

Routes to innovation 

The innovation team at Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water first heard about the Flocell XFM5 from Marlowe’s knowledge share event with United Utilities, which detailed its success in implementing the technology after a three-month trial. 

Proven technology 

The Flocell XFM modular filtration system range is a proven technology in the aquatic sector and has been deployed for more than 20 years. It is specifically for tertiary solids and phosphorus removal. The open-cell media is designed to efficiently reduce tertiary solids and soft, difficult-to-manage, flocs retaining particulates without increasing pressure within the filter or reducing flow. The units can be operated under pumped or gravity flow and can be used inline or on a ‘dialysis’ flow mode. 

Monica Rodrigues, utilities sales manager at Marlowe Environmental Services said: “It’s been highly rewarding to be entrusted by staff at Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water with a trial of such importance.  

“Helping the utility to achieving consistently low levels of TSS is further proof that the technology can be a trusted addition to many wastewater treatment plants, especially smaller sites in rural areas.”  

Water efficient  

Flocell’s modular filtration systems use air to clean the filters, rather than a traditional backwash cycle. The low-energy blowers agitate the media pack, removing contained solids during the short cleaning cycle.  

Using air also reduces energy consumption and substantially reduces the volume of backwash water required for cleaning. This makes the Flocell XFM filtration systems over 99.9% water efficient.  

Only the volume of the filter is discharged when cleaning, with prolonged periods of operation possible due to a high retention capacity and no physical moving parts with low maintenance requirements.  

More importantly, the solid content of the backwash is very high, at 1,800mg/l, meaning this can go directly to onsite sludge storage or be returned for co-settlement to the head of the works with incoming effluent, without adding significantly to the hydraulic load and requiring infrequent removal. 

Rodrigues said: “Working on this site with Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water has enabled the very impressive operational capabilities of the Flocell XFM5 to be fully validated, even under stress conditions.  

“Achieving these results, while maintaining over 99.9% water use efficiency, removes the need for backwash tanks and associated infrastructure and maintains operational hydraulic loading in a small and compact footprint which requires only a level base, reducing concrete usage that can be delivered to site and brought online within a few hours of deployment.” 

Customer care 

Marlowe Environmental Services experienced technicians work closely with clients before, during, and post installation to further enhance Flocell XFM modular filtration system functionality and can tailor and scale the technology to individual site requirements. 

Rodrigues said: “By working in close collaboration with Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water we have been able to deliver the best value for them, as well as ensure the treatment site meets its TSS consent. One more unit has already been installed at another site for TSS reduction, and the team at Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water want to explore the full functionality of the Flocell XFM with trails for phosphorus reduction at larger WwTPs in the near future.”