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Severn Trent has begun work on a new environmental programme that will bring big benefits to the region’s fish and wildlife.

The FTSE 100 Company is investing £15 million to install fish friendly screen in 13 locations, as agreed with the Environment Agency. Some of the screens will be installed directly into rivers, others inland,  and they will all bring protection to eels and other aquatic wildlife.

The screens are being installed in raw water intakes where water is taken from before being turned into drinking water.

Heather McCready, project manager from Severn Trent, said: “We’re truly passionate about protecting the precious wildlife in our rivers, so we’re really excited about this project as we know it will bring huge benefits to the environment and to river life. We’re committed to protecting the wildlife in the rivers we use to supply our customers with water, so it’s really important we’re doing everything we can to protect them.”

Severn Trent is working with contract partners CiM6 and NMCN to deliver the programme, and aims to have all screens installed by March 2021 with the first screen to be installed on the River Severn, near Upton in Worcestershire.

The company will then be carrying out installations across its region on other water intakes of the Rivers Severn, Avon, Tame (Blythe and Bourne), Derwent, Dove and Leam.

This investment will make sure eels and any other aquatic wildlife living in the rivers are safe from harm, and can continue to thrive in their natural habitat.

“When all the screens are installed, it’ll mean the wildlife living in our region’s rivers are safe and can live undisturbed by us, while we continue to take water from the river for drinking water,” adds Heather.