Severn Trent is progressing its accelerated £450 million region-wide programme of investment, where once complete, spills from storm overflows will reduce by 20% a year - with work in Warwickshire well underway.
The company has committed to going further and faster, to reduce the use of overflows and has embarked on a programme of work to 900 locations to be completed across the Midlands this year alone.
Photo: Reed bed Fenny Compton Wastewater Treatment works.
A series of unique projects in Warwickshire have already been completed, including £169,000 worth of improvement to Fenny Compton Wastewater Treatment works.
This saw reed bed improvements and new pipe work laid to reduce the use of overflows, benefitting rivers with many more due to start over the next 12 months.
The work will see a series of projects to reduce spills from overflows, benefitting Warwickshire’s waterways.
Overflows are designed to protect homes and businesses from flooding during heavy rainfall, however Severn Trent know they need to do more to reduce the effect on local rivers.
The accelerated work will carry on long term - more specifically for Warwickshire over the next 25 years the water company is investing £300 million to reduce the improve 141 overflows by 2050 – allowing benefits to be seen quicker.
Luke Curtis, Severn Trent Spills Programme Lead from Severn Trent said:
“Our customers want us to go as quickly as possible to reduce spills from overflows, and we’re doing just that. We’re working round the clock, finding new and agile ways of delivering complex schemes quicker, and this project in Fenny Compton is a great example of that.
“The clever technology the reedbed uses helps filter wastewater and the new pipe work laid reduces the need for overflows, meaning they’re not used as much – which is exactly what we’re setting out to do.
“We’re also looking to install more storage solutions, make more improvements to our network, and deliver more schemes across Warwickshire at pace.”
900 locations will benefit this year alone across the Midlands, with more set to come for Warwickshire.
The accelerated projects build on Severn Trent’s delivery of significant investment in Warwickshire that includes:
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