Thames Water is carrying out a £14.7 million upgrade at its Banbury Sewage Treatment Works (STW) to increase the site’s capacity by 84% - part of the company’s plan to upgrade 250 of its wastewater sites to help manage demand due to population growth and climate change.

Photo: Sean Woodcock MP taking a water sample at Banbury sewage treatment works.

Commenting after a recent visit to the site, Sean Woodcock MP for Banbury said:

“I was pleased to hear from Thames Water about the steps they are taking to address pollution in the River Cherwell and local waterways. I hope that these steps will help to clean up the River Cherwell and local rivers for good.”

The upgrade is expected to be completed by 2029 and will expand the site's flow capacity from 266 to 490 litres per second, an increase of 84%. This will greatly reduce the risk of storm overflows during spells of heavy rainfall and longer periods of groundwater retention, which can cause the sewer systems to be overwhelmed.

As part of the upgrade, the site is also undergoing a phosphorus reduction scheme, which will improve the quality of effluent released into the river following treatment.

Mark Ruinet, Senior Project Manager at Thames Water said:

“As custodians of important infrastructure, we need to ensure our sites are resilient to the pressures of climate change and population growth so we can continue to provide reliable services to our customers. Our upgrades at Banbury sewage treatment works, come as part of our commitment to help protect customers and the health of the rivers and waterways.

“We believe all discharges are unacceptable and we are committed to seeing healthy and thriving waterways, however we can’t do it alone. While we play an important role in this, we aren’t the sole custodians of river health. We need everyone working together to help our waterways thrive.”

The upgrade of Banbury STW is part of Thames Water’s plans to improve 250 of its wastewater sites to help manage the effects of population growth and climate change. These include nearby sites at Bloxham, Hanwell and Greatworth. You can see a list of upgrades here.