Southern Water invests £13.8 million in Lingfield Wastewater Treatment Works to enhance water quality and reduce storm overflow reliance.
Lingfield: The Surrey wastewater treatment works just got a big upgrade. It cost £13.8 million and will change how water is treated. Southern Water says this will improve the quality of water leaving the site. It will also help reduce storm overflows during heavy rain.
These upgrades started in August 2023 and will last 18 months. A key goal is to lower phosphorus levels in the wastewater. A new treatment process will cut phosphorus in the final effluent by over 85 percent.
Phosphorus can harm local water bodies. High levels lead to algae growth, which reduces oxygen for fish and other aquatic life. So, lowering phosphorus is important for the environment.
John Penicud from Southern Water said the upgrades will improve water quality and lessen storm overflow use. This means cleaner water for everyone.
Besides the new treatment process, they built new tanks, pipes, and pumps. This increases the facility’s capacity to treat over 50 percent more wastewater, reaching 127 liters per second.
With this increased capacity, the treatment works can handle sudden rain better. This helps prevent storm overflows from polluting the environment and protects local communities from flooding.
The Lingfield facility serves the town and nearby villages. The upgrades were done by CMDP, a partnership between Costain and MWH Treatment. They ensure Southern Water meets new environmental standards.
Anthony Voltz from CMDP praised the team for completing the project safely and without disrupting existing services. The new assets will improve water quality and benefit the local community.
This project is part of a series of upgrades by Southern Water. They recently invested over £11 million in West Sussex and £7 million in East Boldre.
Lingfield Wastewater Treatment Works is located just 2 kilometers north of Lingfield Park Racecourse. It serves thousands of residents in the area.
