Anglian Water has completed an important upgrade to their storm tank at Oakham Water Recycling Centre (WRC) in Rutland. This project will help protect local homes, businesses, and the environment from the increasing risks of flooding and pollution caused by extreme weather events.

The sewer network in Oakham is designed to carry both sewage and rainwater to the WRC, where it’s treated before being safely returned to the environment. However, during extreme weather events with heavy rainfall, such as those seen in recent years, the system can quickly become overwhelmed with excess water.

The new upgrades add 254,000 litres of extra storage capacity to the storm tank - enough to hold more than 3,000 bathtubs of water.

This extra capacity means excess water can be safely stored during heavy rainfall, giving the WRC more time to fully treat it before releasing it back into the environment.  This prevents untreated water from spilling, helping to protect local watercourses and the environment.

Chloe Bailey, Customer Experience Specialist for the project, explained the importance of the new infrastructure: “Climate change is bringing more extreme weather, including sudden downpours and intense rainfall, so it’s essential we are prepared to manage excess storm water effectively.

“This project in Oakham will help protect local homes and businesses, as well as the surrounding environment and biodiversity.”

The £1 million upgrade at Oakham is part of Anglian Water’s larger investment to future-proof the region’s water infrastructure. In April, Anglian Water launched its five-year business plan worth £11bn - its largest ever and almost double that of the previous five-year period.

This will include the construction of nearly seven times as much storm water storage – totalling to 470,000 m3– equivalent to nearly six million baths, ensuring communities like Oakham remain protected against the increasing challenges posed by climate change.