£4.4m has been invested in three projects to protect the environment by reducing storm overflow spills in watercourses near County Durham villages.
Northumbrian Water has been working in the West Rainton and Ludworth areas, upgrading the sewer network, to increase its capacity and enhance its performance.
In Ludworth, network upgrades in the Moor Crescent and Barnard Avenue areas, included separating the surface water drainage from the wastewater-carrying sewers and installing a new tank to increase the sewer capacity.
And in West Rainton, two projects have been carried out. Work has included the diversion of existing assets to create space to construct a new offline storage tank, with a capacity of around 100m3. Additionally, an existing overflow has been abandoned, along with repurposing of parts of the sewerage network and construction of a new storm overflow, removing the potential for storm water to over-fill the network that carries sewage from local properties.
The investment will help to protect the River Wear by reducing spills by more than 75% at each location, to a maximum of ten a year on average at each.
Work has been carried out by the water company’s partner, Esh-Stantec.
Storm overflows protect homes from sewer flooding by operating as relief valves on the combined sewer networks that carry both sewage and rainwater. Separating the sewers from surface water drainage reduces the additional flows caused by heavy rain, freeing up space in the network and reducing spills.
Ian Davison, Northumbrian Water’s Project Manager, said: “This work is among several projects already underway to reduce storm overflow spills, as we make a start on major investment to protect the environment.
“These projects will deliver really positive benefits locally, significantly reducing spills into the River Wear. We know that while work was taking place, our team were very visible locally, and we are grateful for the patience and understanding of people living nearby.”
Work to reinstate land that has been used as compounds and working areas is being completed as weather and ground conditions permit this to be done satisfactorily.