Quality upgrade

05/12/2005

A one-million-pound scheme to upgrade more than ten miles of water main begins in Tynedale today.

The Northumbrian Water scheme, which will take up to eight months to complete, will improve and maintain water quality in Harlow Hill, Great Whittington, Medburn and Stamfordham.

The scheme will safeguard the water supply for the future to five hundred properties, some of which are currently supplied by water mains up to 80 years old.

Project manager, Dave Ingle, said:  “This is essential work which will ensure customers continue to receive high quality tap water - we need to look after and upgrade the assets which deliver it to their taps. 

“If we renew a water main it will have a life of around 100 years and if we put a new lining on the inside of an existing water main, it will have a life of around 70 years.”

While this work is carried out customers should be aware that bogus callers, people who claim to be from the ‘water board’ but who are only interested in stealing from vulnerable customers’ properties, operate in Northumbrian Water’s supply area. 

It is very unlikely that anyone from the water company will need to gain access into customers’ homes while the work is being carried out in Harlow Hill, Great Whittington, Medburn and Stamfordham.  If customers are in any doubt of a caller claiming to be from the water company, they should not let them into their home.  They should ring the company’s customer centre on 0845 717 1100 to confirm the caller’s identity.

For further information contact Cara Hall on 0191 301 6720.