Anglian Water invests to protect local watercourses in Whaddon

Anglian Water has started work building additional storm water storage and upgrading phosphorous technology at its water recycling centre (WRC) in Whaddon, in line with new Environment Agency regulations.

The scheme marks an investment portfolio of nearly £1.4 million at the company’s WRC off Kennel Lane, as part of Anglian Water’s Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP), a programme of environmental investment which is taking place between 2020-2025.

Anglian’s WINEP totals over £800 million of work which is specifically targeted at protecting the environment and improving river water quality. It is the largest WINEP plan of any water company, with double the number of commitments made and delivered in the previous five-year period.

The water company will install a new storm tank at Whaddon, to provide resilience to extreme weather caused by climate change and protect the local environment from flooding and pollution. The new storm tank at Whaddon will be able to hold an additional 215,000 litres of water during heavy rainfall, until it can be fully treated and safely returned to the environment. This builds resilience to extreme weather caused by climate change and protects the environment by helping to reduce the use of storm overflows, providing additional protection for rivers, many of which in the East of England are unique chalk stream habitats.

Engineers will also install new equipment which will remove phosphorous from wastewater, improving river water quality nearby. Phosphorous is widely used in soaps and cleaning products but can be harmful to wildlife when it reaches rivers and other watercourses. The investment at Whaddon WRC includes new equipment to strengthen the current water recycling process and remove even more phosphorous from wastewater. This equipment will help remove harmful algae growth and improve water quality in local watercourses, including the nearby Calverton Brook.

Regan Harris, spokesperson for Anglian Water, said: “We know how important rivers and the wider environment are to our customers and local communities. We’re really pleased that this scheme will help to protect nearby rivers and increase our resilience to climate change, by helping us make sure the wastewater is treated to an even higher standard than usual before it’s returned to the natural environment.

“As a result of climate change, we’re seeing more bouts of extreme weather, sudden downpours and rising sea levels, so it’s really important that our sites are prepared to process higher volumes of stormwater and protect the environment. That’s why we’ve committed through our Get River Positive programme that our water recycling processes will not harm rivers, with schemes like this one in Whaddon.”

Get River Positive was launched by Anglian Water and Severn Trent last year. The plan includes five pledges to transform river water quality across their regions and demonstrates a clear and actionable response to calls for a revival of rivers in England. Central to the pledges is a commitment that work carried out by the two water companies will ensure storm overflows and sewage treatment works do not harm rivers.

This project is being completed by Anglian Water’s @one Alliance. The @one Alliance delivers complex engineering and construction projects across the Anglian Water region, utilising the skills and expertise provided by their seven partner organisations – specialising in the world of water.