Hazen Collaborating on UK Water Industry Research Project on the Carbon Impact of Addressing Substances of Emerging Concern

(LONDON, U.K. – September 1, 2026) – Hazen was recently selected to collaborate on a project for UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR) on “Understanding the Carbon Impact of Tackling Substances of Emerging Concern.” Hazen’s Gayathri Ram Mohan, PhD, PE is serving as Technical Lead for the project alongside Ralph Muvhiiwa as Project Manager, Kati Bell, PhD, PE, BCEE as Technical Advisor, and Jessica Deaver, Kelli McCourt, and Lamya Badr as Task Leads.  

Also sometimes referred to as Constituents of Emerging Concern (CECs), Substances of Emerging Concern (SECs) such as PFAS, disinfection byproducts, pharmaceuticals, and microplastics can pose potential risks to public health and the environment. Advanced treatment technologies can help enhance the removal of SECs from water and wastewater, but further investigation is needed to understand the carbon footprint associated with these alternate treatment trains.    

The primary goal of this project is to evaluate the greenhouse gas implications of managing SECs using a risk-based, scenario-led approach. As UK water companies navigate how to address chemical risks to best serve their customers, the findings and guidance from the project will support the creation of a decision-making framework for identifying mitigation strategies that achieve both water quality and sustainability goals while remaining cost-effective. 

Hazen will partner with the UK-based Water Research Centre (WRc) to complete multiple key tasks and deliverables as part of the project. These include developing a treatability matrix to map SEC mitigation to numerous advanced treatment technologies, then identifying alternative treatment scenarios for the most effective management of various SECs. 

Hazen’s risk-based framework for evaluating alternative treatment trains will play a crucial role in this work. Often used in the context of demonstrating treatment train equivalency for potable reuse applications, this tool helps utilities confidently assess and prioritize monitoring, source control, and treatment investments for CECs based on site-specific risks to their systems.  

"When equipped with robust SEC and treatability data, water companies can make better-informed decisions about chemical removal that take water quality, cost, and environmental impacts, all into account," said Dr. Gaya Ram Mohan, Hazen's Director of Advanced Water Treatment. "This represents a holistic, sustainable approach to SEC management and positions communities to be able to address any future water quality challenges that may arise."

The Hazen and WRc teams bring a diverse array of expertise to the project, from advanced water treatment to wastewater engineering, sustainability and environmental outcomes, PFAS and SECs, risk assessments, navigating complex regulatory landscapes, and more.

For more information about UKWIR and its mission, visit the organization’s website. To learn more about this project and Hazen’s risk-based framework for evaluating alternate potable reuse and other advanced treatment trains, please contact Dr. Gaya Ram Mohan.