Southern Water is investing nearly £33 million pounds in total on two separate wastewater treatment projects.

The water company is investing £20 million in work in the Pagham area to enhance how wastewater is treated before being released to the environment as part of its commitment to improve the quality of water released into Pagham harbour.

Southern Water and their delivery partners GTb will be installing new treatment equipment, tanks and pumps to improve the way wastewater is treated at the works. 

Construction work is expected to start in early 2023 and take around two years to complete. The project will help ensure the site can treat additional flows from new housing development within Pagham.

Southern Water Project Manager, Ben Gogan, said:

“We know how important it is to improve water quality and protect the precious environment across the areas we serve. This exciting project will make a real difference doing that, and it will also help us with the challenge of heavier rainfall and storms due to climate change. The work also includes accommodating project growth until 2035. These works are a great example of our ongoing £2bn investment to improve our performance and our assets.”

Michael O’Rouke-Jones, Project Manager GTb added:

“We are pleased to be working collaboratively with Southern Water on this project.  This is a major programme of work. Making these improvements at Pagham treatment works means that we don’t need to make changes at Sidlesham treatment works – both works discharge to Pagham harbour. Ultimately this means there are huge savings to be made as Southern Water don’t need to undertake similar projects at both sites, but still achieves the total nitrogen discharge levels.”

Southern Water is also getting ready to begin nearly £13 million of work at its Woolston Wastewater Treatment Works - the work to help improve water quality and protect the environment in Southampton is set to begin next year.

The water comany is looking to build a new underground storm shaft which will hold five million litres of water,and has recently installed new filters at Woolston Wastewater Treatment Works as part of its plans to protect shellfish and improve water quality.

The scheme will increase how much storm water can be stored near to the Woolston site -through this and additional membrane filters Southern Water will be able to treat more water before it goes back into Southampton Water.

The utility completed a £100 million transformation of the Woolston works in 2020,  as well as investing in a £5.5 milllion upgrade at its Portswood Wastewater Treatment Works.

Project Manager for Southern Water Jorge Rodriguez, said:

“We know how important it is to improve water quality and protect the precious environment across the areas we serve. This exciting project will make a real difference doing that, and it will also help us with the challenge of heavier rainfall and storms due to climate change. These works are a great example of our ongoing £2 billion investment to improve our performance and our assets.”