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

Work is due to start on site at Broadholme WRC, off Ditchford Road, in September and is expected to finish by summer 2025. As the upgrades are taking place on site at the WRC, Anglian Water customers in the local area should not experience any disruption during the scheme.

Phosphorous is widely used in soaps and cleaning products but can be harmful to wildlife when it reaches rivers and other watercourses. The investment at Broadholme WRC, which is worth more than £35 million, includes new equipment to strengthen the current water recycling process and remove even more phosphorous from wastewater. This equipment will help remove harmful algae growth and improve water quality in local watercourses.

Anglian Water’s team has used detailed modelling of the local system to design a robust engineering scheme which will help to protect local watercourses in Wellingborough now and in the future. This investment means the water entering the River Nene from Broadholme WRC will be even cleaner, protecting wildlife and water quality in the river.

Additional upgrades will include technology on site to allow the water company to process 413 additional litres of water per second, helping prevent spills of untreated wastewater into local watercourses. This will enhance water quality in local rivers and the sea, as well as preventing pollution in the local environment.

Regan Harris, spokesperson for Anglian Water, said: “We know how important rivers and the wider environment are to our customers and local communities. We’re really pleased that this scheme will help to protect nearby rivers and increase our resilience to climate change, by helping us make sure the wastewater is treated to an even higher standard than usual before it’s returned to the natural environment.

“As a result of climate change, we’re seeing more bouts of extreme weather, sudden downpours and rising sea levels, so it’s really important that our sites are prepared to process higher volumes of stormwater and protect the environment. That’s why we’ve committed through our Get River Positive programme that our water recycling processes will not harm rivers, with schemes like this one in Wellingborough.”

Get River Positive was launched by Anglian Water and Severn Trent last year. The plan includes five pledges to transform river water quality across their regions and demonstrates a clear and actionable response to calls for a revival of rivers in England. Central to the pledges is a commitment that work carried out by the two water companies will ensure storm overflows and sewage treatment works do not harm rivers.

This project is being completed by Anglian Water’s @one Alliance. The @one Alliance delivers complex engineering and construction projects across the Anglian Water region, utilising the skills and expertise provided by their seven partner organisations – specialising in the world of water.