£34m upgrade begins at Crewe’s wastewater treatment works

United Utilities is powering ahead with a £34.4m upgrade at its Crewe wastewater treatment works, to improve water quality in the River Weaver.

The North West’s water company is upgrading its site with innovative technology usually found in the energy sector to reduce ammonia and phosphorous in the treated wastewater, by installing a cooling tower in the works that will help the site to run more efficiently in the treatment process. The new media within the towers will act as filters, nitrifying bacteria to remove ammonia from the water and convert it into nitrate. Where possible, the team will look to reduce their carbon footprint further by recycling the used media with local supply chain partners.

The upgrades at Crewe will support healthier conditions in the nearby River Weaver and, as the area’s population increases, help prepare the site for future demand by providing more efficient ways of treating wastewater and reducing the overall ammonia and phosphorous levels in the treated wastewater.

Maria Fletcher, County Business Lead for Wastewater in Cheshire said: “This is an exciting project that has made use of innovative technology from a different sector and will help make our treatment processes at the works more efficient, whilst also providing the environmental benefits to the River Weaver.”

It comes as United Utilities is making great progress on the largest investment in water and wastewater infrastructure in the North West for a century.  The company is spending more than £13bn to protect and enhance over 500km of rivers, lakes and bathing waters whilst safeguarding drinking water supplies for millions of customers.

The work at Crewe Wastewater Treatment Works is being delivered through United Utilities’ Enterprise model, which brings together United Utilities and seven design and construction partners to deliver a £2.5bn package of major projects.