Severn Trent will begin investigative work in Shropshire this week as part of a £78 million project to improve water quality in its region’s rivers.
The Green Recovery Bathing Rivers project will see 49 kilometres of river improved while creating two trial bathing quality stretches of the rivers Teme and Leam.
Severn Trent’s programme aims to achieve 15 kilometres of bathing quality waters by 2025 and the company has pledged to ensure that 90% of people in its licence area live within a one-hour drive of a bathing water site by 2030.
During the investigative phase, which will begin in Ludlow, the company will create trial holes in the area to take geotechnical samples. This will give a better insight into the ground conditions for the design teams ahead of work starting next year.
Severn Trent said the initial work, which will be undertaken alongside CPC Civils, is expected to take three weeks to complete.
Wilfred Denga, project lead for Severn Trent, said: “Before we can start making the improvements that will work towards bathing rivers created in Ludlow, we need to fully understand the ground conditions first.
“By doing this early investigative work we can really get to grips with what we’re working with, meaning when we come to begin construction properly we know what to expect and everything can start smoothly.”
“When we’ve finished, we’ll then return in the new year and start the bulk of the work where we’ll make improvements on our network, and create additional storage to reduce the use of overflows and do our bit to get the river to bathing quality for everyone to enjoy,” he added.