Pumping investment into the sewerage network

05/08/2010

Millions of pounds is being invested to upgrade the sewerage network in two Northumberland villages.

Northumbrian Water has begun the work this week in Thropton and Snitter, near Rothbury.

The £3 million scheme, which will take up to seven months to complete, will increase the capacity of the sewerage network, reduce the likelihood of flooding and improve water quality of Wreigh Burn.

Work will involve replacing the existing sewage pumping station in Thropton, which is alongside Wreigh Burn at the rear of Bridge End Cottage.

The new pumping station will be located next to the bridge over Back Burn, near Sniiter, and will transfer wastewater from Thropton to Snitter sewage treatment works.

A new, screened combined sewer overflow will be constructed at the rear of Bridge End Cottage. Combined sewer overflows, which are consented by the Environment Agency, are designed to discharge diluted wastewater into watercourses in times of very heavy rainfall to protect properties and surrounding land from flooding.

A total of 850 metres of new sewer pipe is also to be installed – 450 metres of pipe will run in private farm land between the new combined sewer overflow and the new pumping station and 400 metres of sewer will run along the road which extends from the bridge over Back Burn to Snitter sewage treatment works.

It will be necessary to have temporary traffic management in place along this road from Wednesday September 8 2010 for up to five weeks.

Snitter sewage treatment works, which serves more than 530 people from Snitter and Thropton, will be enlarged and various assets and processes will be upgraded. The works will treat up to 240,000 litres of wastewater a day.

David McDermott, Northumbrian Water’s project manager, said: “This scheme has been interesting and a challenge to work on. Some of the engineering solutions are fairly unusual and part of the area we will be working in is a site of special scientific interest (SSSI). Consideration has also been given to how we can reduce disruption and how the weather may impact on the scheme.

“A section of new sewer pipe will be installed under the bed of Wreigh Burn and to enable this we will need to build a temporary dam. Everything has been and will be done to ensure the wildlife and plants in the river and surrounding area are protected.

“Another unusual aspect of the improvement scheme is that a temporary bridge will be built over Wreigh Burn. This is to give us easy access to both sides of the burn while protecting the SSSI. It will also prevent heavy construction traffic from going through Thropton village.” 

During the course of the work construction traffic will need access to working areas and the site compound which will be located at Snitter sewage treatment works.

Contractors, Byzak, who will carry out the work on behalf of Northumbrian Water, will display information on the progress of the scheme on a notice board located in Thropton, next to the bridge over Wreigh Burn.

Residents are reassured that, through careful planning with Northumberland County Council, the water company will do all it can to keep disruption to a minimum.

Anyone with further queries should ring Northumbrian Water on 0845 717 1100. 

For further information contact Cara Hall on 0191 301 6720.