Northumbrian Water is investing £5.6m in upgrades to its wastewater treatment works in Dipton, County Durham, delivering improvements to local watercourses.
Work, which is due to begin on January 23, will take around 14 months to complete and will extend and improve the performance of the site, which is located to the North of Front Street, the A692.
As a result of the project, enhancements will be made to the final treated water that is released back into Dipton Burn, helping to improve water quality there and also in the watercourses it feeds, including Red Burn, Pont Burn and ultimately the River Derwent.
New dosing equipment will be installed, along with a new treatment plant and storage tanks, with the site being extended approximately 20 metres to the west, into land Northumbrian Water already owns.
The work will be carried out by the company’s construction partner, Mott MacDonald Bentley (MMB).
Charles Harman, Northumbrian Water’s Project Manager, said: “Looking after the environment is very much at the heart of what we do and this work will ensure that we continue to deliver the best possible results for water quality in Dipton Burn and the watercourses it feeds.
“By expanding the site to meet the needs of a growing population and enhancing the treatment itself, we will ensure that Dipton Wastewater Treatment Works is fit for the future and fit for the environment.
“The work will be confined to within our boundaries, so should not impact those living nearby, and we are working with Durham County Council to minimise any traffic disruption where extra vehicle movements are needed to deliver the project.”
Customers can keep up to date with the project at www.nwlcommunityportal.co.uk by following the link to “Dipton Wastewater Treatment Works Upgrade” page.