Northumbrian Water is inviting customers to meet the team behind the first phase of a £149 million project to upgrade and futureproof its water supply network across the south of County Durham and into Teesside.
The company’s ‘Project Pipeline: Durham and Tees Valley’ includes replacing some sections of the network that are more than 100 years old and installing 28km/17 miles of new pipes, connecting Lartington Water Treatment Works with Shildon, via Whorley Hill.
This will ensure around 200,000 customers in these areas continue to receive clean, clear and great tasting tap water, each and every day.
Four events have been organised in the community to give customers an opportunity to meet the project team to learn more and discuss the plans, ahead of the submission of a planning application to Durham County Council in relation to the first phase.
Subject to planning, the project is expected to begin in Autumn 2022, with the first phase completing in Summer 2025 and phase two, which will see a new pipe connect Whorley Hill Service Reservoir with Longnewton Service Reservoir, running until 2028.
Northumbrian Water is working with partners Esh-Stantec, Mott MacDonald Bentley and Turner Townsend on the project, as well as planning consultants Lichfields.
The events will take place at:
- St Mary’s Parish Hall, Newgate, Barnard Castle on Monday 1 November 2021
- Winston Village Hall on Tuesday 2 November 2021
- Ingleton Village Hall on Wednesday 3 November 2021
- Elm Road Working Men’s Club, in Shildon on Thursday 4 November 2021
Each session will run from 3pm to 6pm.
Project Manager Kevin Fleming said: “Delivering clean, clear and great tasting tap water is core to our business and vital to the wellbeing of our customers. This is a major investment for us that will bring significant benefits for around 200,000 customers across the south of County Durham and the Tees Valley.
“It’s important that we help customers understand what we are aiming to achieve, in terms of improving and futureproofing their water supply, and how we plan to do it, so we would really like to see people come along to these events.
“Our team will be happy to talk about the plans and answer questions, as well as to feed customers’ views into our planning process.
“While we have located and timed the events to give people a real chance to come along and engage, we have also set up a web page for those who can’t attend, so that they too can have their say.”
The website for further information on Project Pipeline: Durham and Tees Valley can be found at www.nwg.co.uk/ProjectPipelineDurham