Planned Work

LOOKING AFTER THE ENVIRONMENT IS ONE OF OUR TOP PRIORITIES.

AS PART OF THIS COMMITMENT, WE ARE LOOKING TO INVEST OVER £850,000 TO IMPROVE THE PERFORMANCE OF OUR WASTEWATER TREATMENT AT LONGHORSLEY.

This essential work will help to improve the water quality of the Longdyke Burn for the benefit of people, the environment and wildlife and ensure that the treatment facility continues to serve the community effectively.

The Sewage Treatment works serves Longhorsley village with a population of over 700. The process comprises an inlet pumping station, storm storage inlet screens, primary settlement tanks, biological filters and final settlement tanks before discharge into Longdike Burn.

As part of a wider Water Improvement National Environment Programme (WINEP), we are improving our treatment process to reduce the amount of phosphorus entering the receiving watercourse. Using innovative technology, we will be installing an electro coagulation system that combines both electrolysis and ultrasound in a single modular unit to condition wastewater prior to traditional solids settlement.

Subject to project approvals, construction work is planned to start in late September 2022 with an expected duration of up to 3 months.

The sewerage treatment works is located to the south of southeast of Longhorsley accessed off East Road. Given the location of the existing treatment works, we don’t expect significant disruption, however, there may be a noticeable increase in construction traffic accessing site via the A1 / East Road during the construction period.

In addition to the upgrade works at our treatment facility, working with Northumberland Rivers Trust, Longhorsley Parish Council and Northumberland County Zoo, we have identified an opportunity to deliver water environment improvements to over 4km of Longdike Burn. Improvements include the creation of wetlands, scrub removal, and improved access along the burn.  For more information, you can view our Bluescpaes poster here .

OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU

We invest hundreds of millions of pounds every year to maintain and upgrade our water and sewer assets so we can make sure we provide you with a top-quality product and safeguard our water and environment well into the future. Working in partnership to deliver water and sewerage services that meet the needs of current and future generations is one of our top priorities.

We recognise that, with construction work, noise and traffic disruption is difficult to avoid. Please be assured that we will do our best to reduce any inconvenience to you.

We want you to receive an outstanding service while we work in your community, and to help us deliver this, we have some guiding principles for our employees and partners.

When our work directly affects you, we will seek your views during the planning stage.

We will work with the local community and other relevant stakeholders to minimise the impact of what we need to do.

When working next to your home or business, we will do our best to contact you before the work begins and update you on progress and about any changes that may occur.

If we need to work on your land or in your property, we will return your land and/or property back to the condition they were immediately before the work began. We will agree this with you before we begin.

Our employees and partners will always act in a professional, courteous and helpful manner, keep their promises and ensure that any issues are resolved within a reasonable and agreed timescale.

Your opinion is important to us. We will ask for feedback on the performance of our employees and partners, as well as the impact our work has had on you and your community.

We will make sure work is carried out safely and that our working areas are secure and tidy.

We will respond quickly to any enquiries and investigate any concerns you may have about our work without delay.