A MAJOR upgrade is under way at a wastewater treatment facility, with the aim of improving water quality across the wider region.
Southern Water has begun a £17 million project to upgrade Pennington Wastewater Treatment Works in the New Forest.
Located near Lymington, the site treats wastewater from thousands of homes and businesses before returning it safely to the environment.
Jorge Rodriguez, project manager at Southern Water, said: "This is a major investment in the future of Pennington and the local environment.
"By increasing treatment capacity by more than 50 per cent and introducing new UV technology, we're improving the site's ability to treat wastewater to an even higher standard."
The upgrade will benefit Avon Water, which flows into the Solent, and is part of Southern Water’s broader environmental improvement programme across the region.
In recent years, the company has completed £63m of water quality projects in Southampton Water and invested a further £50m in the New Forest, including upgrades at East Boldre and Lyndhurst.
The Pennington upgrade will boost treatment capacity from 375 to 567 litres per second.
The project will also include a new settlement tank and upgrades to pipework, pumping stations, and electrical systems.
Work is expected to be completed in September 2028.
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