Wooler Wastewater Improvements

As part of our commitment to improve the environment and to protect the area’s rivers and coast, we are looking to invest up to £35m in the Wooler area. This will reduce storm overflow spills and improve treatment processes at Wooler Sewage Treatment Works by reducing phosphorous from the final treated effluent we return to the environment as part of the water cycle.

Start Date: August 2026

Estimated End Date: March 2029

Partner: Mott MacDonald Bentley (MMB)

Investment Value: £35 million

Investing in Drainage

A project has recently been launched which will see Northumbrian water planning to invest up to £35m in Wooler over the next 5 years to improve water quality of Wooler Water and the River Till by reducing storm overflows and enhancing treatment processes at our treatment works.

We are currently carrying out survey work within the town to better understand the current performance of our sewerage network. This will help us plan improvement works. 

While we are not yet able to share details on improvement proposals, it is likely that the solution will involve a combination of surface water separation, sustainable drainage solutions such as nature-based attenuation basins, rain gardens and tree pits along with more conventional drainage improvements such as storage tanks and upsized pipework and chambers.

Examples:

At our Sewerage Treatment Works we are looking to optimise existing treatment processes along with the potential for the creation of a naturalised wetland to provided enhanced treatment and improve the quality of the treated effluent we return to Wooler Water.

Image examples below from the River Ingol Wetland scheme in Norfolk.

FAQs