Southern Water has completed a £2.5 million project to upgrade its Boldre Wastewater Treatment Works to help improve water quality in the New Forest.

The project at the site near Lymington, which has involved the installation of new ferric dosing and humus tanks, has been carried out by GTb, a joint venture between Galliford Try Environment and Binnies UK Ltd,

The two new humus tanks are underground settlement tanks that separate solids from the effluent, while the ferric dosing will help improve water quality by taking phosphorus out of wastewater.

The scheme is one of a number of projects at sites in the New Forest, where Southern Water is spending £30m to make improvements. The sites include Lyndhurst, Sway and Pennington

Director for Wastewater Operations, John Penicud said:

“We’re really pleased to see this project completed. We know that this new treatment process along with the new humus tanks will make a difference to water quality and what leaves the site.

“We’re always looking for ways to improve our treatment works and it is one of many examples of how Southern Water is investing in its works to improve water quality and increase the amount of flows we can treat.”

Lee McGrattan, Project Manager for GTb, added:

“It’s wonderful news to see this project completed. It’s one of dozens of projects we are working on for Southern Water to be completed, with many more to finish in the coming months.

The team still have work to do at Boldre WTW before they remove their welfare cabins, but it’s fantastic news to have the new equipment up and running.”