A South West Water scheme in South East Cornwall has been named regional Project of the Year by engineering experts.
The company's sewage treatment scheme in Polperro, near Looe, scooped an award from the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE).
At an ICE South West ceremony, in Bristol, the £6 million scheme was named Major Project of the Year.
The project took more than a year to complete and included a sewage screening station at Scilly Cove and a 375m-long outfall. It was completed in September. According to the water giant, it has resulted in a major improvement in water quality in Scilly Cove and the surrounding area. Before, untreated effluent was discharged directly into the sea below Reuben's Walk.
According to the judges panel: "This was an innovative and bespoke design solution and construction method-ology, in response to a very sensitive and physically constrained site. Providing a visually discreet scheme in this important tourist area is of particular merit."
Graham Murphy, South West Water's director of engineering, said: "It was a challenging scheme and it was the final phase of South West Water's £2 billion Clean Sweep programme, which modernised sewage treatment in the South West.
"As a result of the programme, around 250 crude sewage outfalls have been closed and the quality of the bathing waters all around the peninsula has been transformed."