Welsh Water is investing £12 million to upgrade the wastewater treatment work in Leominster, Herefordshire to improve the water environment in and around the town.
The not-for-profit utility company started work in December 2022 on the project to upgrade the wastewater treatment works which it owns and operates in the area.
The treatment works already treats the wastewater it receives from the surrounding area to a high standard, but the planned upgrades will see the treatment process enhanced even further.
Using innovative methods, the main improvement will be the introduction of a process which will remove phosphorous from the treated wastewater. Phosphorous can cause algal bloom so by removing them from the treated wastewater, this will help reduce the levels in the nearby River Lugg – which in turn will benefit the river quality and its aquatic life.
The upgrade work is taking place within the boundary of the treatment works in Leominster. The company aims to have it completed during the Spring next year.
Welsh Water’s Senior Project Manager, Andrew Davies, said:
“As a company, we are committed to ensuring we protect the environment that is in our care, and that includes the watercourses we interact with. There are a number of factors which contribute to phosphate levels in our watercourses, and we are committed to ensuring we do all that we can to keep our contribution to the absolute minimum. Our significant investment here at Leominster reflects this.”
The company recently published a ‘manifesto’ outlining its plans for investment to improve river water quality in its operating area and acknowledging increasing public concern relating to the health of rivers.
The work being carried out at Leominster forms part of the company’s £840 million investment in their wastewater infrastructure between 2020 and 2025. A further £1.4 billion in planned between 2025 and 2030 which will help protect the environment.
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