A £4.5million upgrade to Calbourne Wastewater Treatment Works has been completed, with the improvements set to benefit the Caul Bourne stream and wider local environment.
The project, led by Southern Water, is designed to significantly improve the quality of treated water returned to the environment.
Key works included the installation of a new ferric dosing system, a new tank, and the refurbishment of the site’s reedbeds – a natural method of filtering wastewater.
These upgrades form part of Southern Water’s broader environmental improvement strategy aimed at protecting the Isle of Wight’s water systems.
Taniko Aston-Kolek, Project Manager for Southern Water, has said:
“This project is a great example of how targeted investment can deliver real environmental benefits.
“By upgrading our treatment processes at Calbourne, we’re helping to protect the Caul Bourne and contribute to cleaner seas around the Isle of Wight – supporting our goal of improving water quality across the region.”
Martin Richards, Project Manager for GTb, added:
“It’s great to see this project finished. We’d like to thank the residents of Calbourne for their patience while we undertook this work.”
The Calbourne upgrade follows ongoing work across the Isle of Wight to improve bathing water quality. Southern Water has invested £21million so far, with an additional £99million earmarked for future improvements.
One of the largest projects currently underway is a £17million upgrade at Sandown Wastewater Treatment Works, which is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
