Construct - Issue 51

FM Conway has long been a vocal champion for moving the industry towards a circular economy model, keeping materials in use for as long as possible. As part of its sustainability goals, the business has invested £1.5 million to upgrade its water drainage treatment plant and increase capability. The plant processes gully waste from FM Conway’s maintenance operations and street cleaning operator clients. Recycling this wastewater has a multitude of benefits, and the upgraded Dartford plant supports the business’ waste recovery strategy – it conserves freshwater resources, removes contaminants which could harm ecosystems, and recovers aggregates and sand that can be potentially put back to work in innovative material mixes. Crucially, it will also recover water in a purified state. This means it is suitable for a wide range of uses, from washing aggregates to feeding street cleaning machines, all without tapping into local water supplies or relying on expensive metered solutions.

Another important but often overlooked component of gully waste recovery is the sludge cake. This is the solid and semi-solid organic residue that remains after all the useful materials have been extracted. It cannot be reused but it serves as an excellent soil conditioner and helps prevent the erosion of topsoil. Peter Maasz, head of projects at FM Conway, is clear about the business’ commitment: “Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword for us – it’s at the heart of everything we do. Our investment in the plant shows how we can cut waste and reuse resources that would otherwise be discarded. For us, producing purified water and aggregates from gully waste and putting byproducts to good use doesn’t just make environmental sense, it makes business sense too. It gives us surety of supply for ourselves and our clients as we self-deliver projects.” The upgrade to the plant will also sharply increase processing capability, meaning more client projects can be supported, more frequently.

FACTS Divisions • Water and Drainage

Management

• Structures

LOCATION

Dagenham

M25

Purfleet

Erith

Tilbury

Dartford

Gravesend

DRAINAGE TREATMENT PLANT

Swanley

M20

M25

CONTINUES

OVERLEAF

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