Bid to improve water quality

Anglian Water is to respond to criticism over sewage in local waterways by investing £2.6m into its Gosberton Water Recycling Centre.

The company is to install new equipment to remove phosphorous from wastewater.
“This will improve the river water quality in Lincolnshire,” the company says. “Phosphorous is widely used in soaps and cleaning products but can be harmful to wildlife when it reaches rivers and other watercourses.
“The investment across Lincolnshire will total £46m, which will see the installation of new equipment to reinforce the current water recycling process and will remove even more phosphorous from wastewater.
“This will help prevent harmful algae growth and improve water quality in local rivers.”
Anglian Water is making the improvements to 17 water recycling centres including Gosberton.
Across five river locations in the Spalding area, a total of 1,300 sewage spills were recorded by Anglian Water last year.
The South Forty Foot Drain had 398 – up from 233 in 2022. The Lower Nene has 378, Glens 220, The TraC area of The Wash 195 and the Welland Lower 109.
In this area, Crowland Sewage Treatment Works added 59 spills to Nene Lower figures while Donington’s Sewage Treatment Works (STW) recorded 1,332 hours of spillage over a total of 122 incidents into Mill Drain, catchment of the Black Sluice.
Holbeach Water Recycling Centre saw 41 spills lasting for a total of 570 hours.
Sutton Bridge took third spot with 120 hours over 21 spills into the River Nene.
Anglian Water says its efforts have reduced phospherous in local waterways by 80 per cent in the last 30 years.
Regan Harris, spokesperson for the company, said: “Our current environmental investment programme is one of the biggest in the sector. We’re really pleased that these upgrades to our water recycling centres in Lincolnshire will help to protect nearby rivers and increase our resilience to climate change, by helping us make sure the waste water is treated to an even higher standard than usual before it’s returned to the natural environment.
“We know how important rivers and the wider environment are to our customers and local communities. That’s why we’ve committed through our Get River Positive programme that our water recycling processes will not harm rivers.”