Anglian Water has started work to improve the water treatment processes in Soham, near Ely, in line with new Environment Agency regulations.

The work – which includes phosphorous removal technology and improvements to the amount of wastewater the site can process – will improve water quality in local watercourses, including the Soham Lode.

The work is taking place entirely on site at Anglian Water’s water recycling centre (WRC) off Broad Piece in Soham, meaning customers in the area should not experience any disruption during the scheme.

The improvement schemes mark a total investment of more than £3 million into water recycling processes at Soham WRC. Work will include new technology to remove more phosphorous from wastewater and new equipment to strengthen the current water recycling process by allowing the site to process higher volumes of wastewater.

Phosphorous is widely used in soaps and cleaning products but can be harmful to wildlife when it reaches rivers and other watercourses. The investment at Soham WRC includes new equipment to strengthen the current water recycling process and remove even more phosphorous from wastewater.

Anglian Water’s team has used detailed modelling of the local system to design a robust engineering scheme which will help to protect local watercourses in Soham now and in the future. The water company said the investment means the water entering Soham Lode from Soham WRC will be even cleaner, protecting wildlife and water quality in the river, as well as other downstream watercourses.

As well as installing phosphorous removal equipment to treat wastewater flows to a higher standard, the water company is also modifying existing equipment so Soham WRC can process higher volumes of wastewater.

With high population growth in the area, as well as increased surface water drainage, it is vital that the site is able to keep up with increased flows. The investment scheme will nearly double the site’s capacity, from 568m2 to 1080m2, preventing flooding on site and improving the site’s resilience to future increased flows as a result of climate change and population growth.

The upgrades specifically aim to increase resilience across the East of England, which is likely to see the impacts of the climate emergency – like drought and flooding – more keenly than anywhere else in the UK.

The schemes form part of the company’s Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP), a programme of environmental investment which is taking place between 2020-2025.

Anglian’s WINEP totals over £800 million of work which is specifically targeted at protecting the environment and improving river water quality. It is the largest WINEP plan of any water company, with double the number of commitments made and delivered in the previous five-year period.

Regan Harris, a spokesperson for Anglian Water, said:

“We know how important rivers and the wider environment are to our customers and local communities. We’re really pleased that this scheme will help to protect nearby rivers and increase our resilience to climate change, by helping us make sure the wastewater is treated to an even higher standard than usual before it’s returned to the natural environment.

“As a result of climate change, we’re seeing more bouts of extreme weather, sudden downpours and rising sea levels, so it’s really important that our sites are prepared to process higher volumes of stormwater and protect the environment. That’s why we’ve committed through our Get River Positive programme that our water recycling processes will not harm rivers, with schemes like this one in Soham.”

Get River Positive was launched by Anglian Water and Severn Trent earlier this year. The plan includes five pledges to transform river water quality across their regions and demonstrates a clear and actionable response to calls for a revival of rivers in England. Central to the pledges is a commitment that work carried out by the two water companies will ensure storm overflows and sewage treatment works do not harm rivers.

The project at Soham is expected to be completed by early 2024.