Wessex Water has implemented a series of improvements to water treatment processes across Somerset. A £12m project to protect the River Parrett started in October at the water recycling centre at Langport. This is part of continuing improvements to reduce the automatic discharge of diluted untreated wastewater via storm overflows.

£5m is to be spent at the water recycling centre at Somerton. This is on processes to remove chemicals and enhance the protection of local watercourses and the nearby River Cary.

A further three projects at Martock, Crewkerne and Merriott will see investment of £13m starting this moth. The work will see upgrades to equipment and implementation of new processes. This is designed to ensure that treated wastewater that is released back into the environment is “of the highest standard.”

The idea is to improve the removal of phosphorus from wastewater during the treatment process. There will also be work to improve sewage sludge storage facilities will take place at each of the three locations.

Wessex Water’s project manager for the Martock and Crewkerne schemes, Rachel Weston, said: “The impact of nutrients on rivers and other watercourses is one of the main challenges we’re tackling within many areas of Somerset and by investing heavily in our sites, we’re fully stepping up to tackle this issue.”

Whilst welcome, this comes more than two years after Natural England downgraded the status of the Somerset Levels. In June 2021 they altered the condition to ‘unfavourable declining.’ That followed water quality monitoring that revealed that phosphate levels were three times higher than they should be. This said Natural England, would: “cause biological harm and produce algae and duckweed that is harmful to wildlife.”

The final tranche of money being spent in the area is a further £12 million at rural sites at Milverton and Bishop’s Lydeard. The work will be to boost both the treatment and storage of wastewater and will start over the winter. It will see a tripling and doubling capacity at each respectively. In addition storm water storage capacity will be increased at Bishops Lydeard.