Setting the standards
Chemicals like phosphorus are found in many household products and, consequently, in sewage arriving at our water recycling centres that can damage our region’s waterways.
Farm slurries, agricultural fertilisers and septic tanks are also sources of these nutrients and where these nutrients are present in high concentrations, they can cause large growths of algae in waterways such as streams and rivers.
This can damage plants and animals in those areas by depleting the amount of oxygen in the water – a process known as eutrophication – and we’ve committed millions of pounds towards helping to significantly reduce their impact.
The refit of our water recycling centre at Langport will ensure the site continues to keep pace with environmental targets and the quality of treated wastewater continues to meet the highest standard, helping to improve water quality in the adjacent River Parrett and its surroundings.
What we did
From the autumn of 2023, our team – 15 strong on average – carried out a programme of improvements at the site to the west of the town, enhancing measures for the removal of phosphorus from wastewater during the treatment process.
Across around 50,000 hours of work, the installation of new systems, tanks and upgrades to electrical equipment on site was completed, with more than 8,000 tonnes of earth shifted during the project to pave the way for the improvements.
Project manager Victoria Plummer said: “The work carried out at Langport is an example of the decisive action we are taking to address this issue as part of our commitment to protect the environment and also take into account the potential for population growth in the area in future years.’’
A wider investment
More than £40 million of similar work to improve treatment methods has been completed or has already got under way across Somerset in the last few years.
This included work on sites near Martock, Crewkerne and Merriott, all close to the River Parrett.
In nearby Somerton, more than £5 million was spent to remove chemicals and enhance the water recycling centre to boost the protection of local watercourses and the nearby River Cary.
Further north, a £5 million project to build an integrated constructed wetland near Shapwick to naturally remove nutrients is expected to get under way next summer.
Tackling the future
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is currently reviewing Ofwat’s final determination of our 2025-30 business plan, which has outlined further action to tackle nutrients in the region’s waterways.
If fully accepted by the CMA, the plans include £820 million to be invested in river and coastal water quality by upgrading treatment sites and removing 1,550 tonnes of nutrients from waterways.