Investment to protect the environment by upgrading and modifying the sewer network in a rural village is set to reduce storm overflow spills.
Northumbrian Water has started work in the Lingdale area, where 1.8 kilometres of new surface water sewer will be constructed, removing the potential for storm water to over-fill the network that carries sewage from local properties.
Additionally, a new below ground storage tank will further help to manage combined flows of wastewater and rainwater, while 150m of combined sewer will be constructed to further enhance the network.
The £3.86m project will help to protect the Holme Beck, by reducing spills by more than 80%, to a maximum of ten a year on average.
Work is being carried out by the water company’s partner, Esh-Stantec, and will see the sewer upgrades take place in areas in and around Stanghow Road, Dale Terrace, and the Balmoral Road Estate. The new storage tank and associated network alterations will be constructed in farmland south of Hill Croft.
The project is expected to be completed by the end of August 2025.
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 one of a number of projects already underway to reduce storm overflow spills, as we make a start on major investment to protect the environment.
“This project will deliver really positive benefits locally, significantly reducing spills into the Holme Beck. We know that while work takes place, we will be very visible locally, so we have written to customers in the area, letting them know what we are doing and why, and we will work to minimise the disruption as much as possible.”
People can follow progress on the work by navigating to the Storm OverFlow Environmental Improvements project page on Northumbrian Water’s Community Portal.