Anglian Water is to upgrade Hadleigh's Water Recycling Centre (WRC), and install new equipment which will remove phosphorous from wastewater, improving river water quality nearby.

Work is due to start on site at Hadleigh WRC this week and is expected to finish by summer 2023. As the upgrades are taking place on site at the WRC, Anglian Water customers in the local area should not experience any disruption during the scheme.

Phosphorous is widely used in soaps and cleaning products but can be harmful to wildlife when it reaches rivers and other watercourses. The investment at Hadleigh WRC, which is worth more than £3.4 million, includes new equipment to strengthen the current water recycling process and remove even more phosphorous from wastewater.

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Anglian Water's team has used detailed modelling of the local system to design a robust engineering scheme which will help to protect local watercourses in Hadleigh now and in the future. This investment means the water entering the River Brett from Hadleigh WRC will be even cleaner, protecting wildlife and water quality in the river, as well as other downstream watercourses.

Molly McKie, Anglian Water spokesperson, said: "We're really pleased that these upgrades to Hadleigh’s Water Recycling Centre will help to protect nearby rivers and increase our resilience to climate change, by helping us make sure the wastewater is treated to an even higher standard than usual before it's returned to the natural environment.

"We know how important rivers and the wider environment are to our customers and local communities. That’s why we’ve committed through our Get River Positive programme that our water recycling processes will not harm rivers."