South West Water has completed a £21million project to improve water quality in the region’s rivers.
The water company has made significant upgrades to its wastewater infrastructure and treatment works across the region to protect or improve designated shellfish waters to support shellfish life and growth.
The project involved improvements at 22 locations across eight estuary catchments: the Dart, Exe, Teign, Camel, Fal, Yealm, Avon and Salcombe.
Senior Project Manager Steve Cross said:
“The £21million investment included improvements to stormwater overflows through various methods. Wherever possible sustainable solutions have been developed which include removing surface water from the sewerage network and reducing infiltration.
“Other solutions included providing upgraded screens, increasing stormwater storage capacity and upgrading the treatment process at wastewater treatment works.”
The programme included a £3.6million ultraviolet disinfection plant installed at Countess Wear Wastewater Treatment Works to treat the intermittent stormwater overflow, a £500,000 stormwater storage tank in Truro and a £730,000 upgrade at Sherford Wastewater Treatment Works.
A total of 2,275 cubic metres of stormwater storage has been constructed as part of the project. This additional stormwater storage capacity in the sewerage network and other improvements will reduce the number of storm discharges into rivers and estuaries during extremely wet weather.
There are 137 designated shellfish waters in England, 25 of which are in South West Water’s region. The Environment Agency estimates that industry associated with shellfish production in the south west is worth £5.35million a year.
With the UK government demanding a 50% reduction in storm overflow spills by 2029, the era of reactive management is over. Speaking in the House of Commons on 21 July 2025, then environment secretary Steve Reed said, “This Government will cut water companies’ sewage pollution in half by the end of the decade.”
ERG, the leading supplier of odour control systems and industrial gas cleaning & thermal systems, has been awarded the coveted King’s Award for Enterprise.
Welsh Water’s new artificial intelligence-driven tool, ORAI, has been shortlisted for three categories at the prestigious British Data Awards 2026 – underscoring the company’s commitment to using cutting-edge technology to deliver better outcome for customers.
Barhale has completed work on two separate Rapid Action Taskforce Spills projects it is carrying out for Severn Trent.
Hear how Scottish Water has completed its £235 million Ayrshire Glasgow Resilience Project - customers across Greater Glasgow, Ayrshire and East Renfrewshire will now benefit from a more secure and resilient water supply.
Hear how United Utilities is accelerating its investment to reduce spills from storm overflows across the Northwest.
Find out more about the remarkable career opportunities on offer at WSP - scroll down to watch the inspirational video.