Anglian Water have recently completed essential upgrades in Watton and the surrounding area to enhance the local environment, build resilience against the rapidly changing climate, and support community growth.

Improvements included building a new storm tank, relining over 144km of sewer pipes to prevent bursts, and installing nearly 4km of new pipes to serve new homes.

This project was part of a larger programme of improvements that will increase the resilience across the East of England which is likely to see the impact of the climate emergency – like drought and flooding – more keenly than anywhere else in the UK.

Over £850,000 of this project focused on increasing the storm water storage at Anglian Waters water recycling centre in Threxton Hill. The site now able to capture and hold over a million litres of rainwater - the equivalent of about 12,500 baths - to protect the environment during heavy rainfall.

By expanding the system's ability to manage heavy rain and storm events, it means the risk of untreated wastewater spills has been reduced, offering greater protection to watercourses in Watton and the surrounding area.

Over £600,000 was invested in surface water management in the area, including sewer relining in North Pickenham to stop rainwater entering the sewers through any cracks. This part of the project also included installing water butts and planters to selected customers. These water butts collect rainwater from rooftops, reducing runoff into sewers, lowering flood risks, and easing pressure on drainage systems.

Last year, Anglian Water released their Thriving East report which found that over 720,000 new residents will be moving to the East of England in the next two decades posing a risk to the region being able to thrive.

As well as improving the local environment, nearly 4km of sewer pipes have been laid to serve new homes in Watton to make sure taps are running and toilets are flushing for customers in years to come.

Michael Smith, Customer Experience Coordinator for the project, said: “We know how important rivers and the surrounding environment are to our customers and communities in Watton. That’s why we’re pleased to announce the completion of our work to improve local watercourses and enhance resilience in the area. We’d like to thank residents for their patience while we’ve been active in the community over the past year.”

While the final stages of the project were underway, volunteers from Anglian Water’s @one Alliance project team dedicated their time to supporting the local community. Their efforts included litter picking, weed clearing, repainting the historic cattle weighbridge, and tidying up local spaces such as the Watton Memorial Ground and the Bridle Park.