Event: Institute of Water – Technical Site Visit to Plymouth Mayflower Water Treatment Works

Date: September 2025

Location: Plymouth, UK

Role: Attendee

Type of CPD: Technical site visit / operational insight / innovation and treatment optimisation

Duration: Half‑day visit (tour + technical briefing + Q&A)

Summary of the Event

I attended the Institute of Water technical visit to the Mayflower Water Treatment Works in Plymouth, one of the most advanced drinking‑water treatment facilities in the UK. Operated by South West Water, Mayflower is the first plant in the country to use a cutting‑edge ceramic membrane and suspended ion exchange (SIX®) process, representing a major step forward in treatment resilience, water quality and operational efficiency.

The visit included a technical briefing from site engineers, a guided tour of the treatment process, and discussions on the plant’s design philosophy, performance, digital systems and long‑term operational strategy.

Key Themes Covered

• Advanced drinking‑water treatment technologies Ceramic membrane filtration, SIX® ion exchange, and high‑resilience process design.
• Operational optimisation and resilience Managing variable raw‑water quality, process stability and asset reliability.
• Digital monitoring and automation Real‑time data, control systems, alarms, optimisation tools and remote monitoring.
• Water quality and regulatory compliance Achieving high standards for turbidity, organics removal and microbiological safety.
• Sustainability and energy efficiency Low‑chemical treatment, reduced waste streams and long‑term environmental performance.
• Innovation adoption and lessons learned Commissioning challenges, operator training, and the transition from legacy assets.