A NEW £2.2 million wetlands project near Poole is set to boost the drive towards using natural methods to help protect the area around Europe's largest natural harbour. 

Wessex Water is building the first scheme of its type in Dorset, ensuring stormwater can be treated sustainably before being released back into the Poole Harbour catchment.  

The project will be designed to ease the pressure on the pumping station, which handles sewage, reducing the threat of pollution and flooding from the sewer network which can occur when the system is overwhelmed by heavy rain or the infiltration of groundwater. 

The two-hectare wetland, which will feature three lagoons and a wet woodland, is being built on land next to Bulbury Lane Sewage Pumping Station, near Lytchett Matravers, in spring 2025. 

Nearly 9,000 square metres of wetland will treat excess water that occurs when heavy rain overwhelms the sewers that can carry both foul sewage and rain runoff.  

After passing through the natural process to remove contaminants, the water will reach the Poole Harbour catchment. 

Project manager Al Barlow said: “This will be the first constructed wetland in Dorset and it will help to tackle specific issues that have occurred at Lytchett Matravers, which has been suffering the effects of flooding and groundwater infiltration. 

“We have worked hard to reline and seal the sewer system in this area but infiltration by groundwater, including from private sewerage systems, which subsequently cause the automatic operation of storm overflows, is a complex issue to resolve so we’ve looked at alternative ways to tackle it. 

“The wetland will act as treatment to any water making its way into and through the wetland cells before discharging back into the Poole Harbour catchment. 

“We want to increase the number of these wetlands projects by building confidence in their performance and finding the correct location for wetlands is key. Like this one, most are on private land and we work closely with the landowners on our plans.” 

Ruth Barden, Wessex Water’s environmental solutions director, said: “We know some communities want wetlands to form part of the solution to these issues. 

“That matches our determination to explore nature-based solutions where we can, instead of ‘grey’ infrastructure solutions that cause more impact on the environment, carry significant carbon implications and substantial costs and are extremely disruptive to communities. 

“Wessex Water is an industry pioneer in identifying nature-based solutions, such as constructed wetlands, which are a key part of our mission to provide sustainable water and environmental services, protecting and enhancing habitats like rivers and natural wetlands and contributing to the wellbeing of our neighbourhoods.”