Anglian Water’s first Integrated Constructed Treatment Wetland (ICTW) at Everton Water Recycling Centre (WRC) marks a major step forward in nature based wastewater treatment. Delivered through the @one Alliance, with Skanska as principal contractor, the project provides a sustainable, low carbon alternative to chemical dosing while ensuring compliance with new phosphorus and iron limits under the Environmental Permitting Regulations. Watch drone footage of the site here.
Everton WRC is a small rural site in Bedfordshire serving around 600 people. To meet the Environment Agency requirements, the works needed to significantly reduce phosphorus levels in its discharge to the River Ivel. The conventional solution of iron dosing would have required extensive civil works, new chemical storage and ongoing operational inputs. Instead, the project team chose a nature based approach, resulting in Anglian Water’s first ICW: a three cell wetland spanning 18,320m², equivalent to roughly two and a half football pitches. Wastewater is diverted from the existing outfall pipeline and flows through the new natural wetland under gravity before re-entering the system for final discharge.
Over a six month period, the team excavated the wetland cells, which mimic the natural processes of wetlands to treat wastewater, and planted more than 110,000 native wetland species. These included emergent plants such as lesser pond sedge, reed sweet grass and yellow flag iris, alongside marginal species like water mint, purple loosestrife and marsh marigold. Together, they create a diverse habitat that naturally removes phosphorus and iron while supporting local biodiversity.
Delivering a first of it’s kind solution required close collaboration with landowners, regulators and local authorities. Land acquisition and planning approvals took several years, reflecting the complexity of the scheme, while construction was carefully scheduled to avoid winter working and ensure safe, predictable progress.
The project has already attracted attention beyond the UK. Delegates from the Mexican Embassy and Government visited in late 2025 as part of a trade mission focused on innovative water management, and local MP Richard Fuller visited the site during its development, highlighting its regional significance and the wider interest in nature based infrastructure.
The wetland eliminates the need for chemical dosing, cutting operational carbon, reducing lorry movements and lowering long term costs. Balanced cut and fill earthworks removed the need to import or export materials, helping achieve an 84% reduction in carbon emissions, from 654 tCO₂e to just 104 tCO₂e. With planting now established, the wetland is expected to reach full maturity by spring 2027 and could remain effective for 30-50 years or more.
As the first project in Anglian Water’s £37m wetland programme, Everton provides a repeatable model for future AMP8 schemes. It demonstrates how nature based design can deliver regulatory compliance while enhancing biodiversity and reducing whole life carbon.
Mark Williams, Senior Project Manager for Everton WRC, said: “It’s been a real pleasure to lead this portfolio and deliver our first wetland. Negating the need for chemicals and vastly reducing vehicle movements and concrete is a real plus for the environment. Locals are also already commenting on the increased wildlife, with more deer and birds of all types visiting the area.
“Despite early land and planning challenges and delays, the construction ran smoothly and we’re applying those lessons to the 17 wetlands in the pipeline.
“Everton shows what’s possible when we challenge convention and put sustainability at the heart of design. This wetland doesn’t just meet today’s standards, it sets a new benchmark for the future.”