The one-year scheme, which will begin in September 2016, will improve the performance and resilience of our sewer network in the Roker, Seaburn, St Peter’s areas, as well as Cleadon in South Tyneside. Our partner, ESH-MWH, will be carrying out this work on our behalf.

Work will involve reducing the amount of surface water (rainfall from roofs and roads) that enters the sewer network which will increase its capacity – this is particularly important in times of rainfall.

As a result, the amount of times that waste water is released into the sea at Whitburn Steel pumping station, and into the River Wear, near St Peter’s Church, will be reduced.

To ensure that we choose the best solutions and minimise the impact of our work on the local community, we are working with Sunderland City Council and South Tyneside Council to maximise the scheme benefits.

OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU

We invest hundreds of millions of pounds every year to maintain and upgrade our water and sewer networks so we can make sure we provide you with a top quality product and safeguard our water and environment well into the future. 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.
• We will always act in a professional, courteous and helpful manner, keep our 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.