Severn Trent has successfully completed 1,500 engineering projects ahead of schedule and is now poised to expedite the delivery of an additional 600 improvement projects aimed at reducing storm overflow usage.
This initiative will increase the total number of upgrades, including stormwater tanks for rainwater storage and advanced wastewater treatment technologies, to an industry-leading 2,100 projects by autumn 2025.
The water and wastewater utility, serving 4.5 million customers across the Midlands, has announced that with the installation of these 1,500 permanent improvements, the average number of spills from storm overflows is expected to decline by over 25%, reaching an average of 18 spills annually by December.
Given another year of record-breaking rainfall and increasingly frequent extreme weather events, this work is estimated to have prevented around 24,000 storm overflow spills in the region during 2024.
This ambitious engineering initiative is being executed at an unprecedented pace, driven by a dedicated team of 300 Severn Trent engineers. Since June 2024, the team has delivered an average of 34 projects each week, which include new storage tanks for water retention and flap valves to mitigate flooding during high river levels.
Key achievements of the program include:
– 244 new storage tanks deployed at treatment facilities, with some capable of holding up to 200,000 liters, to manage excess water during heavy rains.
– 189 flap valves installed on network infrastructure to prevent sewer flooding caused by high river inflows.
– 23 state-of-the-art Submerged Aerated Filter units added at treatment plants to enhance wastewater processing.
James Jesic, Capital Delivery and Commercial Director at Severn Trent, commented:
“From new storm tanks to new treatment solutions, we’ve mobilised a huge team of engineers who are working non-stop to deliver for our customers. The team has delivered a major milestone of installing 1,500 overflow improvements, which was made more challenging given the extreme weather events and flooding in many locations. We’re now going even further and even faster by delivering an extra 600 projects by autumn 2025.”
As part of its “Get River Positive” commitments launched in March 2022 to improve regional river health, an independent Advisory Panel has been established to monitor Severn Trent’s progress.
Joe Pimblett, CEO of Severn Rivers Trust, highlighted:
“As an integral partner within an independent Advisory Panel, I have had the opportunity to see how far and fast Severn Trent is moving forward with plans to improve our waterways. Severn Trent’s continuing strong investment in reducing spills is playing a pivotal role in reducing harm in the rivers in my and other regions.”
Severn Trent expects to see widespread regional benefits from these efforts as the upgrades become fully operational, with positive outcomes already noted at several sites.
One significant achievement has been a 96% reduction in storm overflow spills at a location in Charlton Kings, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. In 2023, the site experienced 25 spills. However, following substantial investments in monitoring technology, the installation of a large new storm tank, and upgrades to the local pipe network, spills plummeted to just one in 2024—a remarkable 96% reduction from the previous year.
James Jesic further added:
“The Charlton Kings project and many others similar serve as a blueprint for the improvements we’re making across our region, as we continue to move at pace to install engineering solutions. As all the improvements get up and running, we’re looking forward to seeing the benefits of this work across the region in the year ahead.”
This progress is supported by additional funding from a £1 billion investment provided by Severn Trent’s investors to enhance waterway quality. Over the next five years, Severn Trent plans to allocate more than £2 billion toward ensuring healthier rivers across its service region.
Source: Severn Trent
