Water quality in Falmouth, Penryn and Helford is to be improved as part of a £1 billion investment from South West Water.

Industry regulator Ofwat has given its backing to the work that will include improving the quality of water produced at College Water Treatment Works near Penryn, thanks to a new “granular activated” carbon filtration system.

Water quality will also benefit through the “Upstream Thinking” project in the Argal and College reservoir catchment area.

This will focus on the raw water treated at College Water Treatment Works, in a project carried out on South West Water's behalf by Cornwall Wildlife Trust.

The company has similarly vowed to protect and improve shellfish waters in the Fal and Helford estuaries.

Sarah Newton, MP for Falmouth and Truro, said: “South West Water has done well to put together a package of significant investment that will improve local water quality, prevent flooding and improve water services whilst at the same time keeping bills down.

“I am pleased with the consultation that has been undertaken to produce these very welcome local plans. I am grateful to the local parish councils and residents who have been involved and I will continue to work closely with South West Water and ensure local communities are fully informed as the schemes are developed in detail.”

Other schemes include upgrading the sewerage networks in Chacewater and Truro, “Downstream Thinking” projects in Truro and Falmouth to reduce the risk of sewer flooding and overflows, and upgrading the treatment process at Gwennap Sewage Treatment Works to improve water quality in Hicks Mill Stream.

The company also plans to increase the size of Calenick Sewage Pumping Station and the sewer upstream, laying new mains sewers to cater for the proposed development at Threemilestone. The foul sewage from this development would be treated through the existing capacity at Newham (Truro) Sewage Treatment Works Mrs Newton added: “It is essential that the infrastructure needed to cope with our changing climate and the new homes being planned by Cornwall Council is put in place.

“It is also vitally important that communities such as Calenick that have suffered repeated flooding have upgraded sewage and water management investment to prevent future inundation.”