Essential work to upgrade the water supply on Galleywood Road, Chelmsford, started last 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.
The improvements are set to last for approximately sixteen weeks, Essex & Suffolk Water plan to get the scheme completed as quickly as possible to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum.
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.
Due to the location of the work there will be traffic lights in place throughout the duration of the scheme. These will be introduced in phases and progress down the road in sections as each length of main is completed.
During the work there may be times when water supplies to properties on Galleywood Road will be interrupted for a period of up to three hours, but at least 48 hours′ notice will be provided to residents via a card which will be hand delivered by a site supervisor. There may also be other water supply interruptions of less than 30 minutes, but advance notice of these will also be provided before they take place.
Daren Still, Project Manager for Essex & Suffolk Water said: "The pipes we are replacing will help to insure there is a robust water supply network in the area. This upgrade work will help to improve water quality and reduce interruptions to supply for our customers. We will be using a pipe-bursting technique, to ensure disruption is reduced to an absolute minimum.
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 have written to all residents who live within the length of the works, and 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.