Southern Water is is set to begin more than £4 million of work in early March to help improve water quality, reduce storm overflows and protect the environment on the Isle of Wight.

The project, which will take around a year to complete, is the first of four similar schemes, which will all get underway over the coming months across the island – this will take the total investment in this area to more than £10 million.

During this scheme, contractor GTb, which is ja oint venture between Galliford Try Environment and Binnies UK Ltd, will install new equipment at the Roud Wastewater Treatment Works – adding ferric chemicals to the process.

The chemicals will further improve and speed up the treatment process, by removing solids quicker. A new sludge storage tank and various new pipework will also be added, and the sludge will be removed from site by tankers.

The Isle of Wight is already home to Southern Water’s Sandown Pathfinder Project, set up to help explore solutions to the water industry’s reliance on a network of storm overflows, designed to stop homes and communities from flooding at times of prolonged rainfall.

Interventions which aim to reduce the amount of surface water entering sewers include the installation of thousands of water butts, investment in treatment processes and capacity, and sustainable drainage systems.

Project Manager for Southern Water, Taniko Aston-Kolek, said:

“We know how important it is to protect and enhance water quality and our precious environment across the areas we serve. These vital improvements at Roud add to the other investments we’re making on the island and the pathfinder project at Sandown to reduce storm overflows.”

Martin Richards, Project Manager for GTb, added:

“We are pleased to be working collaboratively with Southern Water on this project to help improve the River Yar’s water quality and meet new Environment Agency targets. The work we are doing will help protect the area around Roud.”