We are proud to provide a sustainable, affordable, clean and safe water supply and to manage and treat the waste water returned to us in a way that protects the environment.
12/09/2008
Half a million people in the North East are to benefit from a major water quality scheme to begin next week.
Northumbrian Water is to begin the second phase of its £30 million mains cleaning programme on Monday, September 15 2008.
The work, which will take up to three years to complete and is the largest scheme of its type to ever be carried out in the region, will involve cleaning and upgrading 140 km of trunk water mains and the installation of a new 16 km main. The scheme will maintain and further improve tap water quality for 500,000 customers living in South East Northumberland, North Tyneside and the north of Newcastle.
Trunk water mains are large diameter pipes which transfer water around the network – smaller diameter water pipes, known as distribution mains, then supply tap water to customers’ properties. Over a long period of time a layer of sediment, which is not harmful to health, can build up on the inside of trunk water mains and can result in discoloured water. Some of the massive trunk mains which will be cleaned have a diameter of up to one metre.
The first phase of preparation work, which began in February last year, is almost complete and has progressed well.
Eighty-five separate sections of pipe (123 km) will be cleaned and 17 km is to be upgraded. The cleaning work will involve emptying, cleaning, refilling and disinfecting the sections of pipe, some of which are up to 48” in diameter. Water quality and pressure tests will be completed before the supply is put back into service.
Graham Neave, Northumbrian Water’s operations director, said: “Ensuring customers receive excellent quality tap water is one of our top priorities. We all rely on this essential necessity as part of our everyday life. Although discoloured water is not harmful to health we appreciate it is not acceptable or pleasant and this work will significantly reduce the risk of discoloured water.
“The preparation work which began last year will give us the ability to move water around the network to avoid turning off customers’ supply while the mains cleaning is carried out. Customers may temporarily receive discoloured water during the course of the work, but should be reassured that it is safe to use. Water pressure may also fluctuate.”
PROGRAMME OF WORK
While this phase of work is being carried out everything will be done to maintain customers’ water supply. If it is necessary to turn off the water supply or if the work is to cause disruption prior notification will be given where possible.
Customers affected by this work will have received further information and advice in writing and should ring our Customer Centre on 0845 717 1100 or log onto www.nwl.co.uk if they have any queries or concerns.
Bogus callers are known to operate in Northumbrian Water’s supply area. It is unlikely that anyone from the water company will need access into a customer’s property while this work is carried out. If customers are in any doubt about the validity of a caller claiming to be from Northumbrian Water or the ‘water board’ they should ring the Northumbrian Water Customer Centre on 0845 717 1100.
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For further information contact Cara Hall on 0191 301 6720.