To help improve water quality at Benfleet Creek we’re installing and testing a series of innovative measures. Wetland plantings, soil filtration and mycellium (both in the soil filtration tanks and in permeable bags) are being used at Anglian Water’s water recycling centre.
We think that some of the high levels of nitrates and phosphates in the creek originate from the water recycling centre. By installing wetland plantings on the storm-water overflow and using soil filtration, we hope we can capture and store these nutrient pollutants and prevent them from moving downstream to Two Tree Island. At Two Tree Island the nutrients are causing significant algae growth which is inhibiting saltmarsh growth.
The work at Benfleet Creek is an important innovation lab. There are 4 different types of intervention here and we are testing how each one performs. We will be measuring the affect they have on water quality, their longevity and how hard each is to maintain.
Work is currently underway digging the pits that will become our water filtration ponds. This is hot work in the summer sun!
