Anglian Water is setting out its plans today for a new wetland treatment facility located next to its water recycling centre in Ingoldisthorpe.

The new one-hectare site in the village will act as an innovative, natural treatment plant for over a million litres of used water a day. Used but treated water will pass through the wetland to be further filtered and cleaned before being returned to the environment in the River Ingol.

The wetland plants work to naturally clean the water, removing ammonia and phosphate before it goes back into the river. Anglian Water’s existing treatment plants already remove the majority of these substances in line with tight environmental permits issued by the Environment Agency. The wetland will filter it further and ensure it is of an even higher standard, removing the need for expensive, high carbon treatment equipment conventionally used.

The water company said the wetland would not only have a practical purpose, it will also be a huge biodiversity asset and attract various breeding birds, amphibians, bats, water voles to the local environment.

The site will be funded by Anglian Water and created in partnership with Norfolk Rivers Trust and the Environment Agency.

The wetland site will be constructed, maintained and operated by Norfolk Rivers Trust. The Trust submitted an application for planning permission to the King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council earlier this summer. Work on the site is anticipated to begin by the end of the year, with a completion date  for mid-2018.