Essential work to upgrade the water supply on Blackmore Road, Fryerning, near Ingatestone will start next week.
Essex & Suffolk Water is carrying out the work to improve the drinking water supply network in the area, by replacing existing mains, which will improve reliability and safeguard supplies for many years to come.
This is an essential scheme as the existing water main in the area has weakened in recent years, and has become more prone to bursts. This leads to unplanned interruptions to the water supply for customers, more leakage on the network, and more travel inconvenience caused by roadworks.
The location of the works is on Blackmore Road, from its junction with Bag Lane, running eastwards for approximately 500m to outside Church Hill Cottages.
While this essential work is taking place a road closure will be necessary to protect the engineers and the public. The diversion route, which has been agreed by Essex County Council, will use Fryerning Lane, Ingatestone High Street, Trueloves Lane, Green Street and Bag Lane.
While work is taking place there may be times when water supplies to properties on Blackmore Road will be interrupted for a period of up to three hours, but at least 48 hours′ notice will be provided to residents if this is required.
There may also be other water supply interruptions of less than 30 minutes, and advanced notice of these will be provided before they take place.
Daren Still, Project Manager for Essex & Suffolk Water said: "This project is part of our multi-million pound investment programme into the water infrastructure in the region. This essential upgrade work will help to reduce interruptions to supply for our customers and make sure we have secure and reliable supplies of water in future."
"I′d like to apologise in advance for any disruption caused and to thank communities and our customers for the co-operation while we carry out this vital work. We are writing to all residents who live within the length of the works in advance, and will have dedicated support available should customers need to get in touch with us during this time."
Essex & Suffolk Water will on average invest £45 million on essential improvements each year from 2015 to 2020 - a total of £225 million over the five years.
Further updates on the progress of the works will be available on the Essex & Suffolk Water website: www.eswater.co.uk and through Twitter @eswater_care.