Southern Water invests millions to improve water quality in Hampshire town

Petersfield Wastewater Treatment Works (WTW) is receiving a near £5 million upgrade, as part of Southern Water’s drive to reduce the use of storm overflows. 

This work will help the site treat more flows during the winter, and further improve the quality of fully treated water leaving the site – boosting protections for the local environment and supporting future population growth in the East Hampshire area. 

Increasing capacity will also make it less necessary to use storm overflows following periods of rainfall, when sewers are overloaded by extra surface water and flows are released into the environment to avoid flooding of homes and communities. 

This is the latest of several projects, in which Southern Water is investing in Hampshire, to improve our performance in line with Environment Agency regulations.  

Other schemes include investing £13 million at Woolston Wastewater Treatment Works to improve water quality, and an investment of £8 million at Ashlett Creek Wastewater Treatment works in Fawley. 

Project Manager at Southern Water, Daniela Pinto, said: 

“We’re delighted to start work at Petersfield. By treating more flows, we can play our part in improving water quality in this area and reducing the use of storm overflows, as part of ongoing efforts to improve our environmental performance.” 

The work is being carried out by GTb which is a joint venture between Galliford Try Environment and Binnies UK Ltd. 

Andrew Dredge, Project Manager for GTb, added: “We are pleased to be working collaboratively with Southern Water on this project. By making these improvements and upgrading some of the existing equipment, Southern Water will be able to meet new targets. 

“This work will involve increased vehicle movements to the site. We would like to apologise in advance for any inconvenience our work may cause to those people living in the area.”