ANGLIAN Water is investing £7 million to upgrade recycling centres in the area and make the River Colne cleaner.

The water company will be upgrading its water recycling centres at Gosfield, Earls Colne and Eight Ash Green.

The upgrades will see the company install new equipment which will remove phosphorous from waste water, improving river water quality nearby.

Phosphorous is widely used in soaps and cleaning products but can be harmful to wildlife when it reaches rivers and other watercourses.

Work is due to start on each site this month and is expected to finish by summer 2024.

Anglian Water has said customers in the area should not experience any disruption during the scheme when the upgrades are taking place.

However, at Earls Colne water recycling centres, off Colneford Hill in White Colne, the company will also be installing a new water pipe from its nearby pumping station to the water recycling centres.

This will provide a fresh water supply to an emergency shower, to keep engineers safe while they handle chemicals.

Customers in the area might notice more Anglian Water vehicles in the area during construction, but the work will take place within usual working hours to minimise any disruption for residents.

The investments at Gosfield, Earls Colne and Eight Ash Green water recycling centres are collectively worth more than £7 million.

This investment means the water entering the River Colne from each water recycling centre will be cleaner, protecting wildlife and water quality in the river.

It includes new equipment to strengthen the current water recycling process and remove more phosphorous from waste water.

This equipment will help remove harmful algae growth and improve water quality in watercourses.

Anglian Water spokesman Regan Harris said: “We’re really pleased that these upgrades to our water recycling centres in Essex 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.”