WELL Water Group Launches SMT: Advanced Biobased Technology for Municipal Sludge Management
WELL Water Group announced the launch of SMT, a proprietary biobased sorbent technology engineered to address critical challenges in municipal sludge treatment.
Developed by WELL Water Group and 3TM Science, SMT is designed to immobilise heavy metals, hydrocarbons, pathogens and other contaminants commonly found in municipal sludge, while enhancing sludge-to-soil conversion. The process produces a stabilised, nutrient-rich material suitable for safe land application, all while reducing odours, greenhouse gas emissions and overall treatment costs. Certified by the USDA as 100% Biobased, approved by the U.S. EPA, SMT establishes a new benchmark for sustainable municipal sludge management.
SMT represents a leap forward in municipal sludge treatment. It not only neutralises contaminants such as heavy metals and hydrocarbons, but also converts sludge into a safe, nutrient-rich material for soil application, creating both environmental and operational value.
Ron Shani, Co-founder at WELL Water Group
Key Benefits of SMT for Municipal Sludge:
- Heavy Metal Immobilisation: Effectively binds metals commonly found in municipal sludge, including lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic.
- Hydrocarbon and Oil Containment: Captures oils, greases and hydrocarbon residues, preventing leaching and environmental contamination.
- Pathogen Suppression: Reduces bacterial and viral loads, enhancing biosafety for handling and land application.
- Sludge-to-Soil Conversion: Converts treated sludge into a stabilised, nutrient-rich material suitable for safe agricultural or land use.
- Odour and Greenhouse Gas Reduction: Mitigates methane, ammonia and VOC emissions from sludge storage and treatment.
- Regulatory Compliance: USDA Certified 100% Biobased, U.S. EPA approved and landfill-safe in North America.
- Potential PFAS Treatment: Scientific evidence suggests effectiveness, with validation testing currently underway.
- Scalable Deployment: Adaptable for municipal wastewater facilities of varying sizes and operational needs.
Expanding Municipal Reach
SMT has already been piloted in Canada and Europe, demonstrating strong results in pathogen suppression, contaminant immobilisation, odour control and sludge stabilisation for field application. New initiatives are underway targeting municipal wastewater facilities across North America, the EU and the Middle East.
“This launch is about transforming municipal sludge from a regulatory challenge into a valuable resource,” said Shani. “SMT enables municipalities to safely convert sludge into a stabilised material suitable for soil application, while controlling contaminants such as heavy metals, hydrocarbons and other hazardous compounds.”
About SMT
SMT is a next-generation biobased treatment technology developed by WELL Water Group and 3TM Science to meet evolving challenges in municipal sludge management. Designed for scalable deployment, SMT immobilises heavy metals, hydrocarbons, pathogens and other contaminants, while producing stabilised, nutrient-rich material for safe agricultural and land application.
About WELL Water Group
WELL Water Group is an environmental technology company focused on innovative solutions for water, sludge and wastewater treatment. With a global technology portfolio and a mission-driven approach, WELL Water Group is committed to helping partners achieve environmental compliance, operational efficiency and sustainability.
About 3TM Science
3TM Science develops innovative products and technologies in environmental science and engineering. With expertise spanning air quality, water and wastewater treatment, and waste management, the company transforms complex challenges into practical, market-ready solutions that support sustainability across the energy, chemical, insurance and legal sectors.