Planned Work

LOOKING AFTER THE ENVIRONMENT IS ONE OF OUR TOP PRIORITIES.

AS PART OF THIS COMMITMENT, WE ARE LOOKING TO INVEST £10 MILLION TO STREAMLINE AND ADD FLEXIBILITY TO OUR SEWAGE TREATMENT PROVISION AT PLAWSWORTH, PITY ME AND BRASSIDE. THIS ESSENTIAL WORK WILL HELP TO IMPROVE THE WATER QUALITY OF THE BLACKDENE BURN FOR THE BENEFIT OF PEOPLE, THE ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE AND ENSURE THAT CRITICAL WASTEWATER ASSETS CONTINUE TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY EFFECTIVELY.

As part of a wider Water Improvement National Environment Programme (WINEP), we need to reduce the amount of phosphorus entering the receiving Blackdene Burn from Plawsworth and Pity Me STWs.

A feasibility study completed in 2021 considered both local upgrades to treatment processes along with a rationalisation of the sewerage provision and transfer of flows to the River Wear via Brasside STW. The study concluded that due to significant planned growth in the Pity Me catchment, local upgrades would not be possible leaving a transfer solution as the only viable solution.

The preferred solution will comprise the construction of two new transfer pumping stations at Plawsworth and Pity Me Sewage Treatment Works (STW) along with approximately 6km of transfer pipeline to Brasside STW. Initially both works will continue to fully treat foul sewage so that final effluent meets strict environmental standards before being released directly to the River Wear via the new transfer pipeline. While the new pipeline will initially convey treated effluent, the upgraded system will provide a more flexible network, designed and constructed to accommodate the transfer of untreated future flows for treatment, including larger volumes generated by planned population growth in the catchments.

This will be followed by further investment (2025 – 2030) to upsize Brasside STW to allow the abandonment of both works and allow the transfer of foul sewage for full treatment at Brasside STW.

Plawsworth STW

Construction work will involve the installation of Sewage Pumping Station (SPS) and approximately 2.2 Km of new rising main in fields immediately east of the A167 rising to a discharge chamber at the high point of the transfer route opposite the Arniston Centre.

Pity Me STW

Construction work will involve the installation of Sewage Pumping Station (SPS) and approximately 1.2 Km of new rising main crossing beneath the A167 (trenchless) up to a common discharge chamber at the high point of the transfer route opposite the Arniston Centre.

Gravity Transfer Sewer

Construction work with involve the installation of approximately 2.5km of gravity sewer from the discharge chamber opposite the Arniston Centre down to Brasside STW. While the vast majority of the transfer pipeline will be installed within adjacent fields, traffic management will be necessary on Low Chester Road for a short period while we cross the road. The gravity sewer will also involve a crossing of the East Coast Main Line. Ground investigation work completed in Autumn 2022 is assisting in the approval process for this critical crossing and we are working closely with Network Rail to secure the necessary approvals.

During the construction phase, we will need to create temporary compounds and access points along the pipeline route. The main temporary compound will be located off Finchale Road between Rotary Way and the Newton Grange pub with smaller satellite compounds located at Pity Me and Plawsworth STWs to provide the necessary welfare facilities for our construction workers.

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.