Reimagining the future of water through science and circular innovation

Behind every sip of water and every turn of the tap lies an unseen system, quietly working to keep it flowing every day. But like many essential services, it faces growing challenges, from high energy demands and reliance on chemicals, to ageing infrastructure and climate change. To stay resilient, the water industry has the chance to adapt, moving towards circular approaches where resources are recovered and reused.

Scotland’s Hydro Nation strategy puts water at the centre of climate action and innovation. Biology and chemistry are central to this shift, helping us turn wastewater into valuable resources, replace synthetic chemicals with natural processes, and create new products from materials once treated as waste. The question is not whether these changes are needed, but how quickly we can put them into practice.

In this interview, Annelie du Plessis (IBioIC) speaks with Tamsyn Kennedy (Scottish Water) about how biology and chemistry are driving change in the way we treat, reuse, and value water.

On Scottish Water’s role

AdP: Can you briefly explain what Scottish Water does?

TK: Scottish Water looks after Scotland's most precious natural resource - water. From source to tap, we're trusted to supply world class water to over 2 million households and treat over 1 billion litres of wastewater every day.

On today’s challenges

AdP: Could you explain the process of producing drinking water and managing waste, and why it is expensive and unsustainable in its current form?

TK: Very simply, we take water from the environment and remove natural elements to produce drinking water. For sewage we do the same in reverse – remove the waste and pollution and return the water safely to the environment. Both processes are energy-intensive and produce bioresources that must be handled and disposed of safely. We also face challenges from the growing number of persistent chemicals entering the water system, such as pharmaceuticals and household products, as well as from the chemicals we currently rely on for treatment. We have to move away from linear, wasteful systems if we want to go further than Net Zero, look after our environment, and keep costs manageable for everyone.

On the role of biology

AdP: How are biological processes, such as microbial or enzymatic treatments currently being used in your operations? What areas require improvement to make them more efficient and sustainable?

TK: Our secondary treatment of wastewater is a biological process, using either aerobic or anaerobic bacteria to break down the organic material so it’s safe to release. Due to the volumes of wastewater, we treat - 24/7 - we rely on mimicking what happens in nature. So, the cultures are not designed/tailored to produce additional useful materials or reduce gas emissions. In the future, if we want to be more sustainable, we’ll need to be more deliberate in how we use biology in our wastewater works, not only relying on conventional processes, but exploring tailored or engineered biological systems that can reduce emissions or create useful products. We’ll also need to look at more nature-based solutions, where engineering works with, rather than against, natural processes.

On chemistry innovations

AdP: What are the two most exciting developments/advances in chemistry-based innovations that you have seen in recent years?

TK: There are areas I’ve seen some exciting progress in recently. The first is around reducing the use of chemicals in water production. Right now, producing drinking water and treating wastewater relies heavily on coagulants - chemicals such as aluminium or iron salts that make fine particles and impurities clump together so they can be removed. At present, these coagulants are only used once and then wasted. Finding ways to recover and reuse them could help reduce costs, cut the risks linked to sourcing new materials, and lower the environmental footprint of the water industry. Research has shown that engineered bioreactors can successfully recover and recycle these coagulants, producing material that works just as effectively as newly manufactured chemicals.

The second is in generating value from waste using dark (anaerobic) fermentation. In the short term, dark fermentation of sewage could help us recover volatile fatty acids (VFAs). These acids act as a carbon source that the biology in our treatment plants can use to remove nitrogen and phosphorus, so we don’t need to bring in additional chemicals. In the longer term, VFAs can also be physically extracted or chemically/biologically converted to a range of high value products and fuels, such as bioplastics, animal feed, biogas, and hydrogen.

On collaboration and innovation

AdP: Why is collaboration essential for Scottish Water and what is their approach to working with innovators?

TK: For the last few years, water companies have been focused on reducing energy. However, this no longer goes far enough and there are many more opportunities in taking a circular economy approach. Due to the scale and diversity of the challenges, transitioning to a resilient and sustainable industry will require a multidisciplinary approach. We are vital to every person’s life every day, which is a great chance to make a positive difference.

On working with regulators

AdP: Is Scottish Water working with regulators around new technologies?

TK: Scottish Water has a special working group set up with Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) for new output materials. At this we look at resources that can be recovered from our treatment streams and their technologies. It is a collaborative journey; we are currently looking at 25 different materials such as phosphorus, cellulose, biogas, and biochar, and how they might be turned into useful products.

On commitment to research

AdP: Could you share with us more about Scottish Water’s commitment to innovation, and how you engage with external partners such as researchers, startups, or technology providers?

TK: Scottish Water’s Research & Innovation Team is one of the most active in the water industry. We seek out current research and technologies, establish collaborations, and work together to create solutions that are good for the country and for businesses. We are open to anyone who can help us address our challenges.

Looking ahead

AdP: A big thank you to Tamsyn for sharing her insights and helping us kick off this important conversation around biotechnology and the future of water.

Over the coming months, IBioIC and Scottish Water will lead a programme of webinars and workshops to explore these themes in greater depth, supporting new connections and collaborations between the biotechnology and water sectors. This work also connects with Scotland’s Hydro Nation Chair Programme, which funds leading academic research into circular economy, net zero, and resource recovery for the water sector. Those working at the interface of biology, sustainability, and infrastructure are encouraged to get involved and help shape this emerging space. If this interview has stimulated some thoughts about how you can help, please email innovation@scottishwater.co.uk