A HUGE investment is being made in treating wastewater in one Herefordshire town.

The water environment in and around Leominster is set to receive a boost thanks to a £12 million investment scheme currently being carried out by Welsh Water.

Back in December 2022, the not-for-profit utility company started work on a project to upgrade the wastewater treatment works which it owns and operates in the area.

The treatment works already treats the wastewater it receives from the surrounding area to a high standard, but the planned upgrades will see the treatment process enhanced even further.

A Welsh Water spokesperson said that the company is using "innovative methods" to carry out the work. 

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"The main improvement will be the introduction of a process which will remove phosphorous from the treated wastewater," a spokesperson said.

"Phosphorous can cause algal bloom, so by removing them from the treated wastewater, this will help reduce the levels in the nearby river Lugg – which in turn will benefit the river quality and its aquatic life.

"The upgrade work is taking place within the boundary of the treatment works which is just off Southern Avenue in Leominster."

Phosphates have been of particular concern in Herefordshire's waterways in recent years, with phosphate levels in the river catchment area are so high that the council put a moratorium on new development in most of North Herefordshire in 2019.

The company aims to have the works completed during the spring next year.

Welsh Water’s senior project manager Andrew Davies said: “As a company, we are committed to ensuring we protect the environment that is in our care, and that includes the watercourses we interact with.

"There are a number of factors which contribute to phosphate levels in our watercourses, and we are committed to ensuring we do all that we can to keep our contribution to the absolute minimum. Our significant investment here at Leominster reflects this.”