Northumbrian Water has begun work on its £18.3m investment programme to strengthen the resilience of its wastewater network and help essential sites continue operating during interruptions to the electricity supply.
The Power Resilience programme focuses on sewage treatment works and pumping stations considered particularly vulnerable to power interruptions, mainly located in rural areas. The investment is designed to reduce the risk of disruption leading to pollution incidents or issues with the performance of treatment sites.
The need for greater resilience has been highlighted by severe weather in recent years including Storm Eowyn (2025) and Storm Dave (2026), which brought strong winds and disruption to electricity supplies in the North East.
As part of the programme, the company is introducing back up power solutions for critical wastewater sites so key processes can continue during an unplanned loss of mains electricity.
This work complements other significant investments being delivered to strengthen wastewater infrastructure across the North East in rural areas such as Seahouses, in Northumberland.
Chris Clark, Project Manager at Northumbrian Water, said:
“Our wastewater sites provide an essential service around the clock, so building greater resilience into them is really important.
“Power interruptions can put additional pressure on treatment works and pumping stations, particularly during severe weather, and this investment is about making sure we’re better prepared when those situations arise.
“We’re looking at the right solution for each site, helping our teams keep vital wastewater processes operating while reducing the risk of disruption and protecting the environment.
“This investment is part of our wider commitment to make our wastewater infrastructure stronger and more resilient for the communities it serves.”