Phosphate Fertiliser from Sewage

A plant, claimed to be the first of its kind in Europe, is producing phosphate fertiliser from sewage.  The ‘nutrient-recovery reactor’ is operated by Thames Water at its Slough treatment works and should produce 150 tonnes of phosphorous-rich pellets every year.  The fertiliser will be sold under the brand ‘Crystal Green’.  Thames Water claims that introducing the technology widely could produce around 20% of the 138,000 tonnes of phosphate fertiliser that the UK imports every year.  As well as producing a saleable product, the process results in cleaner, less polluting water being discharged, and results in less ‘struvite’ build-up in pipes.