Work starts on a £28 million pound upgrade to Horsham Wastewater treatment works

Southern Water is investing £28million to upgrade the existing wastewater treatment works at its Horsham site on the Southwater Bypass.

This upgrade to existing facilities will improve efficiency and will also include new machinery, the replacement and refurbishment of existing equipment, and control and monitoring systems.

Southern Water has been working with CMDP – a joint venture between Costain and MWH Treatment. Upgrades to the site started in September 2022 and are expected to be complete in summer 2024. This is taking place on our existing site, to avoid any possible impact on the environment.

There are several benefits to customers in and around the local area, ensuring the safe disposal of treated wastewater back into the River Arun for years to come. This will include landscaping and habitat enhancements that will ensure an overall 9% gain in biodiversity (animals, plants, and fungi) within the site.

There will be no visible alterations to the existing landscape that can currently be seen from the surrounding area or from the A24 either.

Local suppliers are being used where possible within a 30-mile radius of the site, along with two apprentices from the Sussex area.

Over the last couple of months, Southern Water and CMDP have been working in partnership to support the local community in and around Horsham, including:

  • Horsham Matters – a local community group was selected to receive a £1,000 grant towards the cost of its energy bills this winter. Southern Water has awarded Community Energy Grants across the region to support community centres energy bills to ensure they can support those in need this winter.  The Grant is delivered in partnership with CMDP and is open to independently run community centres and spaces where activities such as local foodbanks, support groups and children’s programmes operate.
  • Supporting Turning Tides (in conjunction with CMDP), a Sussex charity that provides support to people who are experiencing homelessness by volunteering to get their new centre in Roffey ready to open by Christmas.

Further updates about the project will be provided in due course via our website.