A £35 million expansion of Saltford Water Recycling Centre in Somerset has been completed, increasing wastewater treatment capacity and strengthening infrastructure serving communities around Bath.
The two-year project, delivered by YTL Construction UK for Wessex Water, has increased the facility’s capacity to treat incoming sewage by around 40%, equivalent to more than 800 litres per second.
The expansion is designed to accommodate increased demand from a growing population while maintaining high standards of wastewater treatment and helping protect the environment around the River Avon.
The project included the construction of major treatment infrastructure, a new pumping station, pipework and associated site infrastructure.
According to Wessex Water, the upgraded facility will support wastewater treatment requirements for more than 100,000 customers.
Upgraded wastewater infrastructure
The Saltford project forms part of a wider £45 million investment programme in and around the area.
A new £9 million access road and bridge across the River Avon was completed in 2024, improving access to the water recycling centre while reducing heavy site traffic through Saltford’s narrow village roads.
A further £1 million storm storage enhancement was completed off the A4 in Saltford last year, while the nearby Keynsham Water Recycling Centre has also undergone a £17 million refurbishment.
The upgraded Saltford facility is expected to play an increasingly important role in managing wastewater and reducing the impact of storm events on local watercourses.
Pumping and pipework form part of expansion
YTL Construction delivered the major structures and pumping station for the expansion, while installing the associated pipework and infrastructure.
The construction programme involved moving more than 300,000 tonnes of earth and pouring approximately 11,000 tonnes of concrete across the expansion area.
The project also included extensive environmental works, with new planting and habitat improvements planned around the site.
Supporting water quality improvements
The expanded facility will contribute to Wessex Water’s wider programme to remove additional nutrients from wastewater within the Bristol Avon catchment.
Reducing nutrient levels can help limit excessive algae growth, supporting healthier river and stream ecosystems.
The combination of increased treatment capacity, upgraded pumping infrastructure and additional stormwater management capacity highlights the growing investment required to modernise wastewater infrastructure and accommodate changing demand.
The completed Saltford project represents a significant upgrade to the region’s wastewater treatment network, combining increased capacity with infrastructure improvements designed to support long-term water and environmental performance.
