Water company goes back to nature for help cleaning stormwater released into a Chorley brook

United Utilities has installed a groundbreaking reedbed system in Heskin, Chorley – the first of its kind - to provide a more natural way to clean, filter and treat stormwater before it’s released into Syd Brook.

Not only do the reedbeds provide a more attractive solution for the local community, they also increase biodiversity and will provide a home for local wildlife.

The three reedbeds feature a series of pipes that pump in air to increase oxygen enhancing the treatment of stormwater released from the combined sewer overflow and improving water quality in Syd Brook, a tributary of the River Yarrow.

Although the project is still relatively new, initial testing has already shown that the reedbeds are delivering improvements including a significant reduction in ammonia in the treated effluent.

United Utilities’ project manager, Mark Graham, explained: “We’re exploring how nature-based solutions can be used as an alternative to traditional engineering to help manage the impact of heavy rainfall as part of our commitment to improving river quality across the North West.

“The reedbeds in Heskin provide a balanced solution using innovative technology to ensure that we are treating stormwater in the best possible way while using more natural processes to increase biodiversity and ecology in the area,” he added.