WELSH Water has completed an £8 million investment project to upgrade the wastewater network and improve river quality in Presteigne.

The work carried out by the not-for-profit water company involved building a brand-new pumping station at Norton wastewater treatment works and upgrading the assets at Presteigne Wastewater Treatment Works. Using the latest technology, this has allowed for the waste from Norton to be pumped to Presteigne where it is treated.

Presteigne treatment works already treated the wastewater it received from the surrounding area to a high standard, but the planned upgrades have helped enhance the treatment process even further.

The main improvement included the introduction of a process which removes phosphates from the treated wastewater. Phosphates can cause algal bloom so by removing them from the treated wastewater, this will help reduce levels in the nearby Norton Brook and River Lugg – which in turn will benefit its aquatic life.

Angela Meadows, Welsh Water’s senior project manager, said: “We’re pleased to announce that our investment work in the Presteigne area is now complete.

“This investment reflects our commitment to reinvest profits directly for the benefit of our customers and the communities that we service, helping to ensure we provide a first-class wastewater service and protect our precious environment.”

Back in February this year, the UK environment minister, Rebecca Pow, and local Member of the Senedd, James Evans, visited Presteigne. The visit was part of a fact-finding trip into projects that are being delivered to help improve river water quality in the River Wye – which is a hot topic of debate right now. During the course of the visit, Welsh Water explained the significant investment they are already undertaking to help improve the quality of the river – which includes the £8m invested at Presteigne.

The site visit was followed by a round table discussion on how organisations and groups with an interest in river water quality can work together to further improve river water quality. The Secretary of State for Wales, Simon Hart, joined the discussion along with Brecon and Radnor MP Fay Jones.

Welsh Water has also been an active member of the Better River Quality Taskforce. The taskforce, which brings regulators, government and water companies together, has been instrumental in bringing forward a collaborative approach to improving water quality.

Over the course of the past few months, the taskforce has been working on developing action plans to reduce the impact of storm overflows and these have now been published on the Welsh Government’s website.

The launch of the plans was also accompanied by a written ministerial statement which set out how the plans on storm overflows are the first step in a journey to look at all of the factors which need to be addressed to help secure to achieve long term and sustainable improvements to river quality.