Northumbrian Water is investing more than £6 million to safeguard water supplies for future generations in the Tyneside area.
Working with two construction partners, Mott McDonald Bentley (MMB) and ESH-MWH, the water company will install 22 electrically controlled valves (EOV’s) at selected locations within the water network.
The work is split into four batches between the two partners and is a two year programme running from July 2017 to March 2019.
These installations will ultimately allow the water company to use remote operation to allow greater flexibility within the water network. It will also build on the cleaning programme completed last year with the ultimate aim to reduce and minimise discoloured water from customer’s taps.
The first phase of the work started on Jesmond Dene Road this week and will take up to two months.
For the duration of the works, a small section of Jesmond Dene Road will be reduced to a single lane before the traffic lights at Ilford Road heading towards the Freeman Hospital.
Richard Johnston, Northumbrian Water’s Project Manager, said: "This work will help us ensure we supply customers with great tasting water and meet the needs of current and future generations.
"We are working closely with our contractors and the council to make sure any disruption is kept to a minimum during the course of the work. If customers would like to find out more about the work they can visit our community portal for regular updates."
Customers can be kept informed throughout the project by using the community portal at www.nwlcommunityportal.co.uk and go to Tyneside Water Network Improvements or by calling 0345 717 1100 and requesting for a call back from the project team.