Water technology company RSE has signed an exclusive licensing partnership with filtration innovator Unio, combining the two companies’ areas of expertise to make Unio's novel, low-energy water treatment technology more accessible across the UK.

Under the agreement, the two companies will work together to develop a new generation of filtration products for municipal wastewater treatment to help water companies improve treatment efficiency.

Unio's patented filtration technology uses centrifugal force to separate tertiary suspended solids from water, removing the need for the physical barriers used in conventional filtration systems. Unio’s performance data shows, its filter can remove up to 95% of suspended solids in municipal wastewater applications.

Its self-cleaning design also features just one moving part, which helps minimise blockages and maintenance requirements, while reducing the water needed for filter cleaning.

Connor Morton, Managing Director of Chemical and Wastewater Solutions at RSE, said:

“Water companies are under growing pressure to improve treatment standards while keeping their existing facilities running, and they need solutions that can be introduced quickly, without unnecessary costs or disruption.

“Unio's technology offers greater flexibility to meet different treatment requirements, making it a strong fit for our modular approach. Together, we see significant potential to help customers meet new standards more quickly, while reducing the ongoing costs and maintenance demands associated with conventional filtration systems.”

The relationship brings together Unio's filtration expertise with RSE's established modular manufacturing and delivery approach. RSE manufactures and tests treatment systems in controlled factory environments before installing them onsite, and this repeatable approach can lead to significantly shorter project timelines as well as greater consistency across water infrastructure projects.

The companies are already building a six-filter system following a commitment from a major water utility. This sits alongside four single-filter pilot plants that will showcase the technology's performance in different applications. These projects will support plans to make the combined solution more widely available across the UK water sector.

The announcement comes as water companies face tightening standards for reducing water pollution and improving environmental performance. This includes recent UK Government requirements for upgrades at more than 400 wastewater treatment works across England by 2030 to meet stricter limits on phosphorus pollution, which can damage the health of rivers and other waterways.

Gareth Jones, Founder of Unio, said:

“Unio's partnership with RSE delivers a step-change in the future success and scalability of our filtration solution. The commitment, support and resources provided by RSE to Unio are testament to their confidence in the performance of the Unio filter.

“RSE's manufacturing capability, process technology experience and presence across the UK ensures we are able to meet the discerning needs of our client base across the UK water industry.”