Anglian Water's @one Alliance has completed important upgrades to their water recycling centre (WRC) in Towcester to help protect the environment from flooding and support future growth in the area.

The sewer network in Towcester is designed to carry both sewage and rainwater to the WRC, where it’s treated before being safely returned to the environment. However, during extreme weather events with heavy rainfall, such as those seen in recent years, the system can quickly become overwhelmed with excess water. 

The new upgrades have added over a million litres of storage capacity - enough to hold 12,500 bathtubs of water! 

This extra capacity means excess water can be safely stored during heavy rainfall, giving the WRC more time to fully treat it before releasing it back into the environment.  This prevents untreated water from spilling, helping to protect local watercourses – such as the River Tove - and the environment. 

Samantha Bignall, Customer Experience Manager, explained the importance of the new infrastructure: “Climate change is bringing more extreme weather, including sudden downpours and intense rainfall, so it’s essential we are prepared to manage excess storm water effectively. 

“This project in Towcester will help protect local homes and businesses, as well as the surrounding environment and biodiversity.”

Earlier this year, Anglian Water announced the start of their next five-year business plan which will see £11 billion of investment across the region. The water company will be doubling their investment to £4 billion to enable nature recovery for the well-loved environment in the East of England.