Anglian Water has reached the halfway point of their major £35 million upgrade work at their Water Recycling Centre (WRC) near Wellingborough, which will help protect local rivers and improve water quality for years to come.

The upgrade will make sure that the water entering the River Nene from the WRC is cleaner than ever before, with long-term benefits for the local environment.

This investment means more specialist equipment is being installed, which will increase the site's capacity to handle an extra 413 litres of water per second – that’s the same as over 300 baths every minute.

By expanding the system's ability to manage heavy rain and storm events, it means the risk of untreated wastewater spills will be reduced, offering greater protection to nearby watercourses.

These upgrades are also essential to ensure the system can cope with the demands of the growing population – which already serves almost 100 thousand homes in Northamptonshire.

As part of the improvements, new equipment will also be installed to remove excess phosphorous – a common ingredient in soaps and cleaning products – from wastewater. By reducing these levels, it will help protect local wildlife by preventing harmful algae growth, which can suffocate the ecosystem.

The work at the water recycling centre, off Ditchford Road Irthlingborough, started in September and is still on track to be finished by summer next year. The work is happening on Anglian Water’s existing site, so there shouldn’t be any disruption to residents nearby.

Sarah Lovitt, Customer Co-Ordinator for the project said: “We know how much our customers care about the local rivers and environment. This project in Wellingborough will help protect these precious resources by reducing the risk of pollution and flooding.

“But our work won’t stop here – as part of our next business plan, worth over £9bn, our proposals will see us double our environmental investment, making it our largest programme ever.”

The water company’s business plan for 2025- 2030 is awaiting final sign off by the water regulator Ofwat later this year.

This project will be 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.