SME News Q3 2026/ 20 Waste Water Treatment Specialists of the Year 2026 For more than 30 years, Smart Storm has worked with businesses across the water and wastewater sectors to solve practical problems around effluent monitoring, treatment and environmental compliance. The company designs and installs wastewater instrumentation and treatment systems, working with customers to understand their wastewater and identify solutions appropriate to the application rather than simply specifying equipment. This approach has given Smart Storm experience across a wide range of industries and wastewater challenges. Dr John Duffy spoke to us about the company’s approach following its recognition as the Waste Water Treatment Specialists of the Year 2026. At the heart of Smart Storm’s work is a straightforward principle: wastewater needs to be understood before it can be effectively managed. Monitoring provides the information needed to identify changes in a waste stream, assess treatment performance and support environmental compliance. The company’s work covers both monitoring and treatment, from flow and water quality measurement through to pH neutralisation, sampling and the removal of fats, oils and grease. Treating High-pH Wastewater One example is Smart Storm’s Industrial NeutraliZer, developed for applications where highly alkaline wastewater needs to be brought under control. Construction, demolition, mining and manufacturing operations can generate wastewater with pH levels as high as 12–14, particularly from concrete and cement-related processes. The NeutraliZer uses carbon dioxide (CO₂) to reduce pH in a controlled process, providing an alternative to traditional acid dosing batch treatments. Dr Duffy explained: “Unlike traditional acid-based treatment systems, CO₂ provides a safer solution because it is self-buffering and cannot overdose the wastewater, eliminating the risk of creating an equally hazardous acidic waste stream.” The system incorporates real-time pH monitoring, status indication and gaslevel alerts, allowing operators to monitor the treatment process with minimal intervention. It is available for both purchase and hire, providing flexibility for temporary construction projects as well as longer-term applications. Finding the Right Treatment Approach Smart Storm’s approach is also demonstrated by the wastewater treatment projects it undertakes. One project was for a food company in South Wales where the customer was facing the prospect of prosecution from Welsh Water because its effluent was outside its permitted discharge limits. A DAF system had been suggested as a possible solution, but Smart Storm took a different approach after evaluating the waste stream. Dr Duffy explained: “Following an evaluation of their effluent stream, we came up with an alternative and cheaper method that removed solids, fats, oils, and grease and balanced their pH to within discharge consents.” The project illustrates the importance of understanding the wastewater before selecting the treatment equipment. Dr Duffy stated: “Smart Storm takes a holistic view of waste streams and always provides the most effective and valuefor-money solutions, backed by 30 years of experience solving wastewater problems.” Monitoring for Better Decisions Monitoring is another important part of Smart Storm’s work. The company’s Hydrocell automatic wastewater samplers are designed to collect samples over a defined period, including composite sampling where required. Refrigerated models use thermoelectric cooling rather than conventional compressor-based refrigeration systems that use refrigerant gases. The Hydrocell range forms part of a wider portfolio of monitoring equipment designed to help customers understand what is happening within their wastewater streams. Reliable monitoring data can help operators identify changes in wastewater characteristics, investigate potential problems and demonstrate compliance with discharge requirements. Practical Experience, Applied Technology Smart Storm’s experience spans industrial wastewater treatment, construction wastewater and environmental monitoring. Its systems are used across applications where wastewater characteristics can vary considerably and where treatment or monitoring needs to work reliably in real operating conditions. This combination of practical experience, user-focused instrumentation and treatment technology has helped Smart Storm develop long-term relationships with customers across the UK for over 30 years. It is this experience-led approach that underpins Smart Storm’s recognition as the Waste Water Treatment Specialists of the Year 2026. For more information about Smart Storm’s wastewater monitoring and treatment systems, visit: www.smartstormgroup.com Company: Smart Storm Web Address: https://smartstormgroup.com/ Email: enquiries@smartstormgroup.com Solving Wastewater Challenges Through Experience, Monitoring and Practical Engineering
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