News

Severn Trent will star in a new BBC Two documentary later this week, revealing the hidden treasures that hide inside sewage.

The Secret Science of Sewage, which airs on BBC Two at 9pm on Thursday 18th March, goes behind the scenes at Severn Trent’s sewage treatment works at Minworth, near Birmingham. Here, presenters Dr George McGavin and Dr Zoe Laughlin ask the question – is waste really waste?

To help find the answer, they follow each stage of the treatment process and speak to Severn Trent experts along the way, who explain how they use bugs and other clever bits of kit to turn pee and poo into renewable energy and a nutrient-rich fertiliser.

The hour-long show will also look at revolutionary science that has the potential to discover new lifechanging medicine and other valuable resources that have remained hidden inside sewage, until now.  

Simon Farris, Bioresources Strategy & Commercial Manager at Severn Trent is one of the experts who appears in the show. He said: 

“As a water and waste company, we have a huge role to play when it comes to looking after the environment and combating the effects of climate change. One of the ways we can make a difference is through the way we treat sewage. 

“To many people, sewage is something that smells and doesn’t look great. To us, we see it as something that can be recycled and used to decarbonise the energy we use. Like water, it’s a precious resource so when it arrives at our treatment works, we’re constantly refining the way we do things, to make sure absolutely nothing is wasted.”

Simon added: “It was great to open our doors and showcase the work we do. We hope everyone watching will find it just as exciting as we do. It will certainly give people something to think about, next time they flush the loo!”