Skanska has completed Anglian Water’s first integrated constructed treatment wetland at Everton Water Recycling Centre (WRC) in Bedfordshire, a nature‑based facility designed to reduce phosphorus and iron in treated wastewater without the need for chemical dosing.

The new three‑cell wetland, built on around 18,320m² of land – roughly two and a half football pitches – sits on a small rural site that serves about 600 people and discharges to the River Ivel. Wastewater is diverted from the existing outfall pipeline and passes through the planted wetland by gravity before re‑entering the treatment works for final discharge. The system is intended to meet tighter phosphorus and iron limits set under the Environmental Permitting Regulations.

Construction was delivered through the @one Alliance with Skanska as principal contractor. Other members of the @one Alliance are Balfour Beatty, Barhale, Binnies, Mott MacDonald Bentley, MWH Treatment and Sweco, alongside Anglian Water.

Over a six‑month period crews excavated the wetland basins and planted more than 110,000 native wetland species, including emergent plants such as lesser pond sedge, reed sweet grass and yellow flag iris and marginal species including water mint, purple loosestrife and marsh marigold. The vegetation is intended both to improve water quality through natural uptake and sedimentation processes and to provide habitat for local wildlife.

Company figures suggest the scheme cuts operational carbon by removing the need for iron dosing chemicals, reduces lorry movements and lowers whole‑life costs. Balanced earthworks meant no import or export of material was required during construction; Anglian Water reports an 84% reduction in construction‑phase carbon emissions for the site, from 654tCO₂e to 104tCO₂e. The wetland is expected to be fully established by spring 2027 and to remain effective for an estimated 30–50 years.

The project required several years of land acquisition and planning approvals and close co‑ordination with regulators and local authorities. Work was scheduled to avoid winter months and to limit disruption. The site has already drawn international interest: delegates from the Mexican Embassy and government visited as part of a trade delegation and local MP Richard Fuller inspected the works during development.

Everton is the first installation in Anglian Water’s wider £37M wetland programme intended to deliver similar nature‑based treatment at other sites in the region during the current regulatory period (AMP8).

The Everton scheme adds to a growing number of nature‑based wastewater trials in the UK and abroad as water companies seek to balance tighter environmental standards with carbon reduction and operational cost pressures.

Mark Williams, Skanska 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.”

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