Protecting endangered eels in the River Stour

Wormingford Pumping Station Eel-friendly Screen Upgrades

The European Eel is one of the most endangered freshwater fish species in the UK. In response to updated legislation and in order to add further protection for eels at Wormingford Pumping Station, which extracts water from the River Stour to pump it to Abberton Reservoir, Essex & Suffolk Water asked our team to design the upgrade for the raw water intake at the pumping station.

We used our Hydraulic Analysis and Design System (Hades) to design reliable upgrades by modelling real-world hydraulic conditions present at the station. We compared the performance of different screens under low river level and extreme pumping conditions to identify the most suitable and cost‑effective solution. The chosen screen had a flexible design that allowed it to be installed within the existing concrete structure while maintaining system performance.

The new screens prevent eels from entering the pumping station, reducing harm and helping protect and restore eel populations while maintaining a reliable water supply.