What are we doing?
Our two-year scheme will aim to reduce the amount of nutrients and chemicals in water entering the lake and a nearby river, the Congresbury Yeo.
By expanding one water recycling centre, repurposing another into a sewage pumping station and laying a new pipeline between the two to transfer wastewater and stormwater to be treated before being discharged, we can help to protect the local environment.
Why is this project needed?
A Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Blagdon Lake is at increasing risk of a process called eutrophication, when a body of water becomes enriched with nutrients, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus.
The majority of these come from runoff from agriculture and land management practices, although they can also come from household pharmaceutical or personal care products that people use.
Natural habitats and the ecological quality of rivers are affected by these nutrients, which can cause big growths of algae on the surface, leading to poor water quality and reducing oxygen, which can harm fish and other species.
We are also taking steps to reduce the impact of treated wastewater and automatic storm overflow discharges from the catchments of Blagdon and Ubley into the lake and the downstream Congresbury Yeo river, working closely with both the Environment Agency and Natural England to improve water quality.
How will this scheme help?
Part of the five-year Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP) to upgrade sewer infrastructure and protect the environment, Ubley water recycling centre at Frog Lane would be decommissioned to become a pumping station.
Wastewater and the majority of stormwater from the Ubley catchment will be transferred via a new three-kilometre twin sewer pipeline to the water recycling centre at Station Road in Blagdon for treatment.
This centre will be expanded to receive both stormwater as well as additional wastewater from Ubley, which would then be treated to remove chemicals and nutrients before discharging back to the Congresbury Yeo.
Carrying out the work
Work on the pipeline element of the improvements started in the spring of 2025, with the pipeline being dug and laid in land across fields.
Where its progress affects nearby roads or rights of way, we will ensure the local community is informed where and when this work will be taking place.
Road closures will be in place on Dark Lane, at the junction with Blagdon Fishing Lodge and on Park Lane, also at the junction with Blagdon Fishing Lodge, between 21 July and 4 August 2025.
All work at the Ubley centre will take place within the existing site. Land next to the existing Blagdon site is being purchased from Bristol Water to help with that expansion.
The bigger picture
We've already taken steps to reduce the amount of surface water getting into the sewer network in this area, by relining and sealing lengths of sewer in the villages of Ubley, West Harptree and Compton Martin in 2022.
This helps protect the environment by helping to limit how often storm overflows operate at Ubley Water Recycling Centre to automatically release untreated diluted wastewater.
What happens next?
Following a successful planning process, initial construction work for the Ubley pipelines began in April 2025 and is expected to finish in October 2025.
Most of this work is taking place across private land, but to help ensure it is carried out safely, Park Lane at the junction of Blagdon Fishing Lodge will be closed to through traffic.
Temporary traffic lights will be in place on Dark Lane at the junction of Blagdon Fishing Lodge from Monday 21 July to Friday 4 August 2025, with signposted diversion routes in place.
A public right of way AX5/32/20 will be temporarily diverted while the work is in progress, with signs in place to indicate the new routes.
Ongoing upgrades at Ubley WRC are continuing until winter 2026, while construction at Blagdon WRC was scheduled to begin in July 2025 and is expected to finish in the winter of 2026.
How to stay informed
We’ll be updating this page throughout these projects to keep customers and stakeholders informed.