Hello all,

Welcome to the portal for Project Pipeline: County Durham and Tees Valley - Phase 1.

This scheme is a £155 million investment to improve the resilience of supply links between Northumbrian Water's reservoirs and treatment works in Teesdale, and parts of central and southern County Durham. Our investment will increase reliability, reduce leakage, and provide high quality drinking water for customers for decades to come.  

This phase of the project - Phase 1 - will construct a new replacement pipeline from Lartington Water Treatment Works to Gainford and a new strategic transfer main between Whorley Hill Service Reservoir and Shildon Service Reservoir. Phase 1 will also include conditioning works north of Shildon, allowing our new assets to link to existing infrastructure in Spennymoor. The next phase – Phase 2 – will not start construction until 2025 and will construct a new pipeline between Whorley Hill Service Reservoir and Long Newton Service Reservoir. I have attached a route plan to aid in your understanding of the scheme geography. 

Phase 1, which will be carried out by our partner, Farrans (who will introduce themselves on here shortly), will continue until around summer 2025. On our behalf, Farrans are initially pegging out the pipeline route and working area, setting up the required site compounds and materials storage areas in the vicinity of the proposed pipeline route. At the same time, they will also begin the process of preparing the route for the main construction works to commence, including fencing and site clearing activities. 

Please be assured that we are working closely with Farrans to minimise our impact on the local community. Typical working hours will be between 07:30 and 18:00 Monday to Friday and between 08:00 to 14:00 on Saturday. 

As the work progresses we will be posting updates to this site to keep you informed about the project's progress and ongoing or upcoming work. Please feel free to get in touch with either myself or our Customer Centre by telephone on 0345 717 1100. Please ask to speak with a member of the project team should you have any concerns or questions. We are more than happy to help. 

Many thanks, 

James Dawes 

Lead Project Manager