Guisborough

We are delivering a £2.5 million project to reduce spills from two storm overflows in Guisborough.

• Currently, the SOs spill on average 32 and 26 times per year respectively, and we are reducing this to less than ten a year (taken across a ten-year period).
• At the first site - Tudor Croft - we will be installing underground pipe storage behind a residential property.
• At the second site, Park Lane, we are making enhancements to existing storage.
• This investment will protect the environment by reducing storm overflow spills into Hutton Beck and Chapel Beck.
• We are currently anticipating to start on site in May 2027, until the end of the year.
• This is part of a £1.7bn investment in protecting and improving the environment between 2025 and 2030.

Storm overflows are an important part of our wastewater network because they protect customers’ homes and the environment.

• They operate automatically as a relief system during heavy rain, storm conditions, or if the sewers are overwhelmed because of more water or blockages and reduce the risk of flooding.
• Our digital interactive map shows up-to-date storm overflow information across the region. A video about this can be viewed here.
• Our storm overflow reduction plan will see us reducing spill frequencies to no more than 10 per year by 2050.

Through our Branch Out fund, we are supporting Green Haven at Prior Pursglove College; an inclusive, community-led project in Guisborough, primarily supporting young people aged 16–24 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) to connect with nature, green spaces, and sustainable food growing.

• The project will create a welcoming, accessible site where participants can develop skills, confidence, and wellbeing through sowing, growing, and harvesting organic produce.
• Participants will learn sustainable practices including organic growing, composting and rainwater harvesting, helping to reduce waste and improve water efficiency, while building resilience in the local natural environment and supporting adaptation to climate change.

Our proposed long sea outfall project is intended to help reduce nutrient impacts affecting the Tees Estuary and Cleveland Coast Special Protection Area.

• The pipeline will replace an existing pipe, which currently sees fully-treated water from our Bran Sands treatment works returned to the environment in the estuary at Dabholme Gut.
• While the water released from Bran Sands is carefully treated to meet strict standards before it is returned to the environment, moving its release 4.5km out to sea will significantly reduce the occurrence of those nutrients in sensitive parts of the estuary, where it can lead to macroalgae growth.
• As well as removing those nutrients from that sensitive area, it will see the water more widely diluted and dispersed within the open sea, helping to protect the estuary and its wildlife.
• An online Hub has been set up to keep up to date with the project and to engage with the team delivering it. This can be found at Bran Sands Long Sea Outfall.

Our Marine Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) project is exploring how natural interventions can help improve water quality and support nutrient neutrality across the Tees Estuary, working closely with partners to identify where Northumbrian Water can add value to existing initiatives and environmental ambitions.

• We are undertaking feasibility studies for seaweed and shellfish farming in the Tees Estuary to assess their potential to remove nutrients from the water, while delivering wider environmental and economic benefits for the region.
• We are collaborating with environmental NGOs and other stakeholders to identify opportunities for intertidal habitat restoration, including saltmarsh and mudflat creation, which can enhance biodiversity, support climate resilience and improve estuary health.

If you live in Guisborough, your water is supplied by a mix of water from Broken Scar Water Treatment Works (WTW) and Lartington WTW.

We’re investing c.£4.5bn in total in the region. This is the largest investment programme in the last 30 years.

• £1.7bn will be invested to stop storm overflow spills and improve rivers, coasts and waterways across the North East.
• £8m will be spent on improving drinking water quality. c.£7.5m extra to reduce leakage.
• We’ll protect our network from power failures and flooding by investing £127m in adapting for climate change.
• We will invest £50m to repair and replace the aging network of water pipes, including lead pipes.
• Over £20m invested in Smart Sewers – A UK‑first smart sewer network which uses AI and sensors to move wastewater in real time, drastically reducing the need for overflows during wet weather.

Bluespaces are water environments accessible to customers via road, footpath, bridleway, other public rights of way, or at a country park or beach.

• We made a pledge to improve 500km of Bluespaces for our customers by 2030. So far, we are over halfway to reaching our goal and have big ambitions for delivering positively impactful projects where they are most needed.
• Since its initiation in 2020, the Bluespaces partnership funding scheme has helped deliver over 6,000 volunteer days and engaged over 18,000 members of the public across 59 projects and 500 events. Our co-funding has helped plant nearly 20,000 new trees, created over 400 hectares of new wetland, and helped tackle eight different kinds of invasive non-native species (INNS), as well as enhancing access and recreational facilities for local communities. 
• Please visit 'Our Scheme' for more information on our funding streams. 
• If you have any ideas, get in touch by emailing Bluespaces@nwl.co.uk

The Branch Out scheme supports the resilience of the natural environment across our operating & catchment areas.

• It provides funding to communities, land managers, partner organisations, and individuals to deliver projects that enhance biodiversity, improve habitat connectivity, and strengthen the ecosystems that people and wildlife depend on.
• For more information on eligibility and application, as well as the details of our three main funding streams, please go to our website at: 'Branch Out funds' 
• Have a project in mind? Please speak to the Branch Out team at Branchout@nwl.co.uk

Field to Tap funding is available for farmers and landowners, and covers a variety of infrastructure, field options, training and innovation to improve water quality.

• To view some examples of our previous funding projects, please visit 'Field to Tap' 
• If you would like any further information or are interested in funding opportunities please email us catchment@nwl.co.uk

The DWMP is our long-term plan for managing rainwater and wastewater. We are currently developing the plan for 2030-55, which we call DWMP28.

• We have recently published our Strategic Context document, which sets out the key principles, challenges and goals that will guide the detailed plan we will publish in 2028. A shorter Customer Summary is also available on our website 'DWMP28'.
• Ongoing engagement with customers and stakeholders is essential to make sure DWMP28 reflects the needs of our communities, the environment, and to shape the long-term resilience of our drainage and wastewater services for the North East. 
• For more information, visit 'DWMP'. If you have any questions or would like to contact the team, please email DWMP@nwl.co.uk.

Even after our planned big investments we still expect bills in the North East to be the lowest in England.

• We know our communities are facing a cost-of-living crisis with bills going up. We are committed to helping those that need it most. If you or anyone you know is struggling to pay their bills, please talk to us.
• There are lots of ways we can help: nwl.co.uk/bill-help.

Find out more about leaks, water disruptions, and your water quality reports in your area.

• Visit 'Check your area'
• If you ever spot an issue such as a flood, leak, or pollution incident, get in touch with us at the following link 'Report a problem'

Use our usage calculator to estimate how much your bill would be if you switched to a meter.

• Visit: 'Usage calculator'.

Wet wipes are the biggest cause of blockages and sewer flooding.

• In November 2025, the UK Government signed into law a ban on the sale of plastic wet wipes, marking a major step in our Bin the Wipe campaign.
• You can make a big difference by doing one simple thing, instead of flushing it down the loo, bin the wipe.   

We think it’s important to give back to make a positive impact in our local communities.

• All our team are encouraged to volunteer to support community groups and charities through our Just an Hour scheme.
• This initiative gets our teams out in the communities we serve, supporting great causes. People choose causes that resonate with them personally - for at least 15 hours a year.
• Want to know more? Please see: 'Just an hour: Case Studies' or email justanhour@nwl.co.uk to find out how we can support your organisation.