Protecting biodiversity in capital projects
We work hard to protect biodiversity on our capital project sites and cut down on disturbances. For example, at Fleetwood Wastewater Treatment works, where we’re extending the treatment process, we have relocated bee orchids and created a habitat for them. We have also temporarily relocated a reed bed to protect it for the duration of the work. 
At Davyhulme Wastewater Treatment Works, where we are starting a new project for thermal sludge treatment, we’re making sure that common amphibians are protected by keeping them away from the construction area and creating a separate habitat for them on the site.
In St. Helens, along the site of our planned West-East pipeline, we’ve committed to protecting an ancient woodland site of biological importance by tunnelling under it. The pipeline will cross eight local authority areas, with which we’ve agreed detailed landscape and biodiversity approaches. Additionally, we have agreed to the creation of a landscape improvement fund with St. Helens and will co-manage the delivery of this with them and the Mersey Forest.
In Scotland, where, as part of Scottish Water Solutions, we are helping to deliver Scottish Water’s capital investment programme, we take care to understand and protect the biodiversity on the sites we work on. An example of this is the Philipshill pipeline project, currently under way, where we’ve done extensive ecological surveys, consulted local biodiversity plans and built biodiversity considerations into the way the project is carried out. Specialist surveys have been undertaken to check for evidence of otter, badger and great crested newts within suitable habitats. As a result, we’ve moved the pipeline route to avoid badger setts. Where the pipeline crosses watercourses the work has been timed to avoid sensitive fish spawning periods. We’re also planning the work to avoid mature trees and habitats of high biodiversity value. Where trees have to be felled, we create brash piles to encourage wildlife and replant native species. We also replant any hedgerows that have to be removed. And where the pipeline needs to pass through a pond, measures are to be taken to reduce the impact and to rebuild the pond following the works.
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