PBJ Engineering Services

Last week, South East Water UK unveiled its multi-billion-pound blueprint for securing drinking water in the region — and it makes for interesting reading. The 50-year plan covers areas in Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire, and Berkshire. Highlights include new reservoirs at Arlington near Eastbourne and Broad Oak in Kent, a desalination plant at Reculver on the Kent coast, and a water recycling scheme at Peacehaven in East Sussex. There’s also a strong focus on reducing leaks and improving water efficiency, with new pipelines planned to help distribute water more effectively across the region. Water scarcity is a growing concern — particularly in the South East — due to the effects of climate change and a growing population. Add in the need to meet environmental regulations, and it’s clear water companies are under pressure to safeguard our most precious resource. #WastewaterIndustry #WaterIndustry #WastewaterEngineering #EngineeringExcellence #PBJEngineering

Guidance, codes of practice, and regulations. What's the difference, or are they just the same thing? When it comes to health and safety, these terms can get mixed up. But there are key differences to understand: ✅ Regulations are the law — you must follow them. For example, the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations apply to industrial boilers. ✅ Approved Codes of Practice (ACOPs) offer practical advice. Following them isn’t mandatory, but it helps ensure compliance. The BOAS (Boiler Operations Accreditation Scheme), for instance, outlines safe boiler management practices. ✅ Guidance helps interpret the law. HSE’s boiler guidelines, for example, offer best practices for safe operation and maintenance. If you have any doubts about your systems' compliance, get in touch—our team of experts can help! #HealthAndSafety #BoilerSafety #EngineeringExcellence #PBJEngineering

Could this project in Warwickshire pave the way for crystal-clear river water across the UK? Severn Trent has begun building the UK’s first operational ozone wastewater treatment plant. It's hoped this is a major step forward in boosting river health. The £78 million facility in Frankton, Warwickshire, is designed to treat wastewater to bathing-quality standards, reducing contaminants like micro-pollutants and pharmaceuticals using ozone, a disinfectant typically used for drinking water. This site is just the start, with two more plants planned by 2025. Severn Trent aims to bring rivers like the Leam and Teme closer to bathing quality, working toward zero river impact by 2050. How effective will it be? Time will tell. This story’s one we’ll keep an eye on—potentially promising stuff! #WastewaterInnovation #OzoneTreatment #CleanRivers #PBJEngineering

What can we expect now that London's new super sewer is up and running? London’s 25km Tideway Tunnel opened last week after eight years of construction. With the first four out of 21 valves now activated, the tunnel has already helped ease the strain on London’s aging sewer network. But what scale are we talking? It's quite the feat of engineering. So far, it’s captured 589,000 cubic meters of sewage overflow in one rainy day — that’s about 240 Olympic-sized pools. Once fully running by 2025, it’s expected to reduce sewage discharge into the Thames by 95%, stopping millions of tons of wastewater from polluting the river. And it’s not just functional — the project is also adding new parks above the tunnel's access points, bringing a breath of fresh air and more outdoor spaces to Londoners. Soon, the capital will have the cleaner, healthier river it deserves. Here’s to the day we can all take a dip in it! #WastewaterIndustry #WastewaterEngineering #EngineeringExcellence #PBJEngineering

How do you destroy a boiler? Sometimes, to understand how something works, it’s helpful to think about how it could fail. For engineers like us, imagining the catastrophic failure of an industrial boiler is a crucial exercise in prevention. In the worst case, a failed boiler doesn’t just stop working—it explodes, causing extensive damage to property and leading to injuries or even fatalities. How could this happen? Here are five possible ways: ⚙️ Poor Water Treatment: Accumulated minerals and impurities create a thick scale on the water tubes, leading to overheating. ⚙️ Operational Mistakes: Pushing the boiler beyond its capacity or ignoring operational protocols can result in mechanical failures and dangerous pressure buildups. ⚙️ Lack of Maintenance: Neglecting regular inspections means small problems can suddenly become big ones. ⚙️ Low Water Levels: Without enough water, the boiler’s tubes can overheat and weaken, potentially leading to a catastrophic failure. ⚙️ Faulty Pressure Controls: Malfunctioning pressure gauges or relief systems can fail to alert operators to danger, resulting in an uncontrolled pressure increase. To prevent these scenarios, regular maintenance and expert servicing are key—which is where we come in. Our specialists have the skills and knowledge to keep your boilers in top condition, safeguarding against failures and maximising performance. #IndustrialSafety #BoilerMaintenance #RiskManagement #BoilerEngineers #PBJEngineering

The wastewater industry could help transform the green economy. Here’s why. Treating wastewater emits as much greenhouse gas as the entire aviation industry - a whole 3% of global emissions. But, believe it or not, there's a big opportunity here. Wastewater is itself brimming with energy — about five times more than what we need to treat it. In recent months we've posted about some of ingenious methods from around the world to harness this energy. In Utrecht, the Netherlands, for example, the heat from everyday wastewater—from your showers, kitchen taps, and appliances—is used to warm 20,000 homes. That's smart energy use! There are other innovative methods too. Like in New Zealand, where floating solar panels on wastewater ponds power one of Auckland’s largest treatment facilities, providing a quarter of its energy. At PBJ Engineering Services, we work with the Thermal Hydrolysis Process (THP). This technique heats wastewater sludge, making it easier to break down and much better at generating biogas, which we convert into green electricity. These projects highlight the untapped potential of wastewater as an energy-rich resource that can be harnessed. The possibilities are huge, and there’s so much more to achieve! #WastewaterIndustry #WastewaterEngineering #Sustainability #PBJEngineering

Could our wastewater help solve the world's plastic problem? Every year, millions of tons of plastics end up in our oceans, rivers, and landfills. Among them, Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) — the material commonly used in beverage bottles and food packaging — is especially long-lasting and tough to break down naturally. But there may be a breakthrough on the horizon. Researchers in the U.S. have discovered bacteria in wastewater that can break down PET. These bacteria convert PET into smaller, non-harmful substances they can use, effectively turning a pollutant into a resource. A potentially exciting breakthrough, then - one that could potentially transform how we manage and recycle plastic waste. #WastewaterEngineering #WastewaterIndustry #PlasticPollution #PBJEngineering

Could our wastewater help solve the world's plastic problem? Every year, millions of tons of plastics end up in our oceans, rivers, and landfills. Among them, Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) — the material commonly used in beverage bottles and food packaging — is especially long-lasting and tough to break down naturally. But there may be a breakthrough on the horizon. Researchers in the U.S. have discovered bacteria in wastewater that can break down PET. These bacteria convert PET into smaller, non-harmful substances they can use, effectively turning a pollutant into a resource. A potentially exciting breakthrough, then - one that could potentially transform how we manage and recycle plastic waste. #WastewaterEngineering #WastewaterIndustry #PlasticPollution #PBJEngineering

Pumps. Important pieces of equipment that don't usually get much thought... until they stop working properly. Pumps are essential components across a variety of systems: In shell-type steam boilers, they circulate water and sometimes fuel. In thermal hydrolysis plants, they move sludge through the treatment stages so it can be processed. Pumps also handle the movement of sludge in dewatering equipment, essential for volume reduction and further processing. In water treatment systems, pumps help with water flow, chemical dosing, and filtration. The problems start when pumps fail. It can disrupt your entire operation, leading to costly downtime and expensive repairs. That’s where we come in. Our team specialises in keeping your pumps in peak condition and swiftly addressing issues when things go wrong. Got pump problems or want to avoid them in the first place? Give us a shout. #PBJEngineering #WaterTreatment #WastewaterManagement

Wastewater treatment plants consume a lot of energy. So, it's encouraging to see schemes like this in action... Near Edinburgh, Scottish Water has completed a £1.4m solar scheme at Newbridge Waste Water Treatment Works. This impressive project features 2,016 solar panels capable of generating more than 1GWh of energy annually. About half of this energy will power the plant itself, covering a quarter of its energy needs, while the remainder will be exported to the national grid. Wastewater plants are energy-intensive as they use substantial power for processes like aeration and pumping. Scottish Water's initiative not only helps reduce its carbon footprint but also moves it closer to its goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2040. This project also included biodiversity boosting efforts like planting pollinator-friendly meadows and installing bird and bat boxes. Let's hope we see a rise in similar projects as more and more treatment facilities consider their impact! #WastewaterTreatment #Sustainability #RenewableEnergy #PBJEngineering #EngineeringExcellence