River water quality in County Durham is set to benefit from a £4.3m investment in wastewater treatment.
Northumbrian Water is preparing to start work on upgrades at its New Moors Sewage Treatment Works (STW), near Evenwood Gate, west of Bishop Auckland.
The project, which will be delivered by the water company’s partner, Galliford Try, is part of its Water Industry National Environmental Programme (WINEP), enhancing the treatment processes that remove phosphorous from the final effluent.
This will improve water quality in the Hummerbeck and the River Gaunless downstream.
Work is due to begin in February and take around ten months to complete.
Dean Thompson, Project Manager at Northumbrian Water, said: “We’re investing in enhancements to ensure the final effluent that leaves our New Moors STW is of an even higher quality, so that we can protect the waters in the Hummerbeck and Gaunless.
“This is part of a wider programme of activity across the North East that will support improvements to water quality in our region’s rivers.
“The work will take place on our site, so, while some neighbours will see a slight increase in traffic to and from the work, and we are liaising with those people directly, there should be no disturbance to the local community while the project is being carried out.”