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Thames Water has unveiled plans to upgrade 250 of its wastewater treatment sites as part of its work to improve river health across its region.
It will invest £1.6 billion over the next two years on the work, which is more than double the company’s total spend on wastewater treatment and sewage networks compared to the past two years.
The programme of works on two-thirds of its sites in London and the Thames Valley includes £650 million of enhancements and upgrades at 135 existing sites that will add to capacity. The company will spend a further £470 million on its wider sewer network. There will also be spending related to the Tideway project.
Chief executive Sarah Bentley said the company needed to “speak up, open up and clean up” by stating clearly what the serious problems are, being transparent about work to rectify them and increase efforts to improve the situation as quickly and effectively as possible.
Thames’ interactive map of combined sewer overflows (CSOs), launched at the end of 2022, will now show information about work taking place near overflow points to highlight to customers where investments are targeted in response to problem areas.
Pollution incidents stemming from discharges at CSO points can occur when the network, pumping stations and treatment works are unable to process the volume of surface and sewage water. Extending the capacity and optimising sewer networks will address causes of such spills and reduce discharges. The company committed to 50% reduction of the annual duration of discharges by 2030 and 80% in sensitive catchments against a 2020 baseline.
Bentley said: “We understand there are no quick fixes. Population growth will increase the strain on our sewage network and treatment centres. And because of climate change, the south east of England is experiencing heavier downpours, which can overwhelm parts of our network and some of our sewage treatment works.”
She added there was a need for “urgent and systemic reform” supported by regulators, customers and government to deliver the changes needed in response to the scale of the challenge.
“We believe that working collaboratively with a broad range of partners will deliver the benefits we’d all like to see. This brings the opportunity to pool resources and expertise together and deliver a more diverse range of solutions.”
The company submitted a programme to the Environment Agency as part of plans for the next asset management period (AMP8) on partnership working and collaboration at catchment level that would pool expertise and resources.
The work announced under the programme will continue into the next investment period from April 2025.
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