Double scoop for Stantec at the CIRIA BIG Biodiversity Challenge Awards 2022

Yorkshire Water's Clifton Wastewater Treatment Works (WwTW) - Integrated Constructed Wetland (ICW) has won the Innovation Award category and received the Overall Winner Award at CIRIA’s 2022 BIG Biodiversity Challenge Awards event which took place on Wednesday 14 September.

Clifton WwTW, designed by Stantec, is a low energy and environmentally friendly method of wastewater treatment - the first of its type in England treating all flows. The project has demonstrated both performance and gain, adjacent a more conventional solution. It brought together international expertise to deliver one of the first Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) positive WwTW, achieving impressive operational carbon saving of 80% and embodied carbon saving of 50%. Additionally, no chemicals are used on site and solar energy is used to power flow monitoring devices. The surplus construction area has been transformed into an adjoining ecological habitat.

The BIG Biodiversity Challenge invites the construction industry to add at least one new biodiversity enhancement to construction sites, developments, or existing buildings. The Awards aim to raise greater awareness of the importance of biodiversity and to demonstrate how biodiversity enhancements can be incorporated at different scales and on different projects.

The Judges commented:

“The Judges were very impressed by the multiple benefits of this project. It has the potential to become a climate resilient solution that proves that water treatment can be achieved through nature-based solutions. It retains the green site as a green wetland and reduces carbon even more by not relying on concrete. Could it be a green solution in a challenging time for water treatment? Looking forward to the results of this ambitious project!”

​Robert McTaggart, Technical Director for Stantec stated: “We are thrilled to receive these awards, and to see the Clifton Integrated Constructed Wetland project continue to receive industry recognition. The collaborative effort from everyone involved on this project ensured its success and provided a sustainable treatment solution which will drive a real change across the water industry.”     

About Stantec
Communities are fundamental. Whether around the corner or across the globe, they provide a foundation, a sense of place and of belonging. That's why at Stantec, we always design with community in mind.

We care about the communities we serve because they're our communities too. This allows us to assess what's needed and connect our expertise, to appreciate nuances and envision what's never been considered, to bring together diverse perspectives so we can collaborate toward a shared success.

We're designers, engineers, scientists, and project managers, innovating together at the intersection of community, creativity, and client relationships. Balancing these priorities results in projects that advance the quality of life in communities across the globe.

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Media Contact                                               
Claire Brown                                                                
Stantec Media Relations
Claire.Brown@stantec.com