Thames Water has made significant progress at Mogden Sewage Works in west London, which is undergoing a £140m upgrade to reduce the amount of storm sewage that overflows into the River Thames following heavy rain.

The first phase of the work is almost complete and has involved moving 450,000 tonnes of soil from the western embankment to make way for new sewage treatment equipment. Retaining the soil on site has temporarily resulted in the embankment being higher than it will be when the work has finished. This has avoided the need for 750 lorry movements per day in and out of Mogden over the past three months and has reduced the overall length of the project by 16 months. The soil will gradually be used to fill around each new structure as it is built between 2011 and 2012.

Matt Warburton, Thames Water's Project Manager, said:

"The improvement work is progressing really well. We have now started to prepare the foundations for the additional sewage treatment equipment, which involves driving steel and concrete piles 12 metres into the ground.

"After Christmas, most of our activities will take place further within the site, and will therefore be less noticeable from neighbouring properties.

"We will, as always, continue to monitor noise and limit disruption as best we can. This includes continually reviewing our working techniques. We would like to thank residents for their ongoing patience during this essential work."

Thames Water plans to replant the new embankment with native trees and hedgerows to create new habitats for wildlife in spring next year.