Work to improve tap water quality for more than 5,000 people in Northumberland has begun this month, with the construction of a new water treatment works.
Northumbrian Water is investing more than £10 million on a new facility in Wooler to treat up to 3.6 million litres of water every day and to help safeguard future water supplies in the area.
The facility, which will be constructed at a new site near the town of Wooler, will replace the existing water treatment works at Fowberry, which was originally built in the 1960s.
The works will be fitted out with new and cutting-edge technology to allow for more energy efficient processes to treat and clean water.
It's part of a £25 million investment in water quality for communities in the area, with another water treatment works being built at Murton, Berwick-upon-Tweed.
The utility company also completed work on a new £3.7 million sewage treatment works in Wooler earlier this year.
Project Manager for the Water Treatment Works, Northumbrian Water's Chris Austin, said: "We're committed to providing a reliable supply of great quality tap water for our customers. As populations grow, this new site will help us to do exactly that, both now and long into the future.
"It will also be equipped with modern technology which will allow us to treat the water in the most efficient and environmentally-friendly way possible, and help us reach our target of being net zero for carbon by 2027.
"While work is ongoing, customers in the immediate vicinity may notice an increase in volume of traffic to the site, but water supplies to the town won't be affected."
Northumberland MP Anne-Marie Trevelyan, said: “I am thrilled that this huge investment will improve the quality of tap water for so many people in Northumberland. I have followed the progress of this work closely, and I am delighted that progress continues to be made on the construction of the treatment works.”
Northumbrian Water's supply partners, Mott Macdonald Bentley, will carry out the work on behalf of the company, which is expected to be complete by summer 2021.
Customers can follow the progress by visiting www.nwlcommunityportal.co.uk and searching for Wooler Water Treatment Works.