The Drainage and Wastewater Management Plan (DWMP) is a long-term, 25-year strategic plan.
The DWMP sets out how we will maintain, improve, and expand our drainage and wastewater systems, to ensure resilient and robust infrastructure for the North East, now and for years to come.
We published our first DWMP in 2023. It shaped major investment in green infrastructure and helped us take big steps towards reducing storm overflow spills, protecting rivers and improving bathing waters. Now, we’re building the next plan, working with partners and communities to find opportunities and tackle challenges like climate change, population growth and urban development.
At Northumbrian Water, caring for the essential needs of our communities and environment, now and for generations to come, is at the heart of what we do.
It is about ensuring our networks can cope with higher demand and heavier rainfall, whilst reducing the risk of flooding, protecting rivers, coastal waters, and wildlife. It is also about finding smarter, greener ways to deliver the services our customers rely on every day and is central to how we plan investment.
Following the commencement of section 79 of the Environment Act 2021, sewerage undertakers now have a statutory requirement to prepare, publish and maintain a DWMP, and in May 2025 Defra published new guidance to help us develop the next version of the plan. By working in partnership with local authorities, environmental agencies, and other stakeholders, we will deliver solutions that provide the best value for customers and communities, while enhancing the places we live and love.
The DWMP sees us analyse sewer performance across our region and highlight where future work will be needed.
We focus on three key areas:
- Flooding
- Environmental, and
- Sewage treatment.
We look at these issues so we can make sure Northumbrian Water’s next regulatory business plan submission takes those issues into account.
To deliver the best outcomes for everyone in our region, we work with customers and relevant organisations, including stakeholders with an interest in planning, development, risk management and the environment.
Next Steps
We’re now preparing our next plan ‘DWMP28’ which will guide investment from 2030 to 2055. The draft will be published in November 2027, with the final plan published in August 2028.
Find out more about DWMP23 or learn about DWMP28 by clicking the buttons below.
How to get in touch
If you would like more information or if you have any suggestions on how we can work together to deliver DWMP28, please email us at DWMP@nwl.co.uk.