Anglian Water is set to upgrade Great Oxendon’s Water Recycling Centre (WRC), installing new equipment which will remove phosphorous from wastewater, improving river water quality nearby.
Work is due to start on site at Great Oxendon WRC this month and is expected to finish by summer 2024. As the upgrades are taking place on site at the WRC, Anglian Water customers in the local area should not experience any disruption during the scheme.
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 Great Oxendon WRC, which is worth more than £3.4 million, 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.
Anglian Water’s team has used detailed modelling of the local system to design a robust engineering scheme which will help to protect local watercourses in Great Oxendon now and in the future. The investment means the water entering the River Ise from Great Oxendon WRC will be even cleaner, protecting wildlife and water quality in the river.
Regan Harris, spokesperson for Anglian Water, said:
“We’re really pleased that these upgrades to Great Oxendon’s Water Recycling Centre 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.”
was Last year Anglian Water and Severn Trent launched the Get River Positive programme 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.
The project is being completed by Anglian Water’s @one Alliance.