Southern Water is investing nearly £8 million to help reduce phosphorous levels and improve water quality as part of upgrades to Battle Wastewater Treatment Works.

The work will increase the capacity of the site, reduce phosphorous levels in the water leaving the site, and will also help reduce storm overflows.

The latest milestone in the project, which is being carried out by contractor CMDP, involved the construction of an additional secondary settlement Humus tank and installation of a scraper bridge – both used in the final stages of treating wastewater, to remove solids.

Alongside this work, a new storm tank is being installed which will increase capacity for storage during storm events and heavy rainfall, ensuring more wastewater can be fully treated and storm overflows are used more rarely.

Project Manager for Southern Water, Sunday Odusola, said:

“We’re pleased to see this project progressing well, we’re keen to continue investing in our treatment works to improve our environmental performance improve water quality and reduce the number of storm overflows.

“Alongside the work of our Clean Rivers and Seas Task Force are doing to reduce storm overflows, it’s vital that we make upgrades to our wastewater treatment works so we can treat more flows and improve water quality.”