MWH Treatment contracted to design five Severn Trent sites in North Nottinghamshire phosphorus programme

Five Severn Trent Water sites in North Nottinghamshire have been targeted as part of an accelerated delivery programme designed to meet tighter phosphorus permit requirements under the Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP), RSK Group said.

MWH Treatment, an RSK Group company, was contracted to complete the detailed design for the five sites, RSK said. The group said the programme would improve the environmental health of around 500km of rivers.

The work sits within a wider set of environmental obligations on the water sector. The Environment Agency, which owns the WINEP methodology, said the programme for the 2024 price review sets out more than 24,000 actions water companies must take, representing a £22.1bn investment in the environment, including reducing phosphorus inputs at more than 800 sewage treatment works.

Alan Lovell, chair of the Environment Agency, said: "This unprecedented level of investment represents a vital step forward".

The Green Recovery background

Severn Trent has previously set out its own river commitments under its Green Recovery programme. In May 2021 the company said Ofwat had endorsed £565million of Green Recovery investment, subject to consultation, and that the plan would accelerate its environmental commitments by improving 500 kilometres of river five years earlier than planned.

Severn Trent's Green Recovery page says Ofwat published its final determination in July and that it included £566m for the company. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said Ofwat's final decisions in July 2021 cleared a £2.7 billion package from water companies, under which Severn Trent Water would invest £169 million to improve water quality in 500km of rivers.

Severn Trent said at the time that the Green Recovery programme would create 2,500 jobs in the Midlands. Liv Garfield, Severn Trent chief executive, said in 2021: "We're really pleased by Ofwat's endorsement of our ambitious Green Recovery plans."

The WINEP context

The Environment Agency's PR24 WINEP lists reducing phosphorus inputs to the environment at more than 800 sewage treatment works among the actions water companies must take, according to the agency.

RSK said the accelerated delivery programme covering the five North Nottinghamshire sites is designed to meet the tighter phosphorus permit requirements set under WINEP, with MWH Treatment contracted to complete the detailed design.