Thames Water’s £20 million upgrade to the Chesham Sewage Treatment Works that has cut phosphorous levels by 85 per cent has already had “a measurable impact on water quality” in the River Chess.

A new report from the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) says that the River Thames – a river that was once declared ‘biologically dead’ - is ringing in 2026 with a new lease of life - although experts warn that rising water temperatures and pollution are threatening the hard-won resurrection.

The Canadian feed company Friesen Group has expanded its collaboration with Swedish environmental company Ragn-Sells and its innovation subsidiary EasyMining which has developed a method to recover over 90 percent of the phosphorus in the ash from incinerated sewage sludge.

Southern Water is investing £2.5 million to upgrade its Grayswood Wastewater Treatment Works in Surrey in an effort to bring down phosphorous levels and improve water quality.

Alternative approaches to phosphorus removal at rural wastewater treatment works are being explored in an innovation project led by United Utilities.

Yorkshire Water is investing £6 million in its High Royd wastewater treatment works near Sowerby Bridge to improve water quality in the river Calder.

Anglian Water’s @one Alliance are working across the county upgrading various water recycling centres (WRC), installing new equipment which will remove phosphorous from wastewater which will improve the river water quality within Lincolnshire.

Yorkshire Water is planning to build an integrated wetland at its South Elmsall wastewater treatment works to help reduce storm overflow discharges into Frickley Beck – a tributary of the river Don.

Wessex Water is investing £8 million to enhance Shaftesbury and Mere water recycling centres to improve water quality around both towns throughout 2024.

Anglian Water is set to upgrade Great Oxendon’s Water Recycling Centre (WRC), installing new equipment which will remove phosphorous from wastewater, improving river water quality nearby.