Northumbrian Water is starting the roll out of improvement works at 27 sites to meet tougher phosphorous discharge consent requirements from April 2025 with a £1.7 million upgrade at its Crookhall Sewage Treatment Works.

The essential work at the works near Consett, which is set to begin on February 21 and run until October, will ensure water that is released back into the environment at Smallhope Burn meets even higher standards. The water company will be installing a chemical dosing plant (ferric sulphate and sodium hydroxide) to enable the site to meet the forthcoming phosphorous discharge consent of 0.9 mg/l, which will apply from April 2025.
The improvement works at Crookhall are one of 27 sites within the NWG region to receive the upgrade as part of the Water Industry National Environmental Programme (WINEP).
Phosphorous is a nutrient and can cause algae to grow in watercourses, reducing biodiversity and river water quality. The works will help to improve the quality of the downstream watercourses.
Northumbrian Water’s partner, Mott MacDonald Bentley will carry out the work within the site boundaries.
Charles Harman, Northumbrian Water’s Project Manager said:
“As part of the water cycle, sewage treatment works take the waste from customers in their local area. There, they clean it to ensure it is safe to return to the environment.
“This investment at Crookhall will mean we can take that treatment even further. That means improvements for water quality in SmallhopeBurn and downstream as it feeds the River Browney.”
HUBER Technology UK & Ireland are inviting people to register for their March webinar where they will be providing information about HUBER water intake screens for municipal and industrial applications.

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