£13m pipeline marks the start of environmental upgrades

The creation of a new 3.5km pipeline will help to protect and improve the quality of water in a North East watercourse. Northumbrian Water is creating the new pipeline from its treatment works at Sedgeletch, between Bournmour, in County Durham, and New Herrington, Sunderland, to the River Wear. This will take clean, treated water from the works, which is currently released into the Herrington Burn, and move its point of discharge to the River Wear. Not only will this protect the burn, the larger waters of the Wear will add greater dilution and dispersion as the water returns to the environment. Construction of the £13m pipeline represents the first of three projects to protect the local environment in the area. Northumbrian Water is also planning two further elements, which will: Further enhance the treatment processes at Sedgeletch STW to reduce the phosphorous in the final treated water, and, Reduce spills from four storm overflows in the Houghton le Spring and Shiney Row area. Work to construct the new pipeline, which started in August and is due to complete in March 2027, is being carried out by Northumbrian Water's partner, Avove. The pipeline will pass through Elba Park and along areas such as the old rail track between Biddick Woods and the A182, as well as crossing the A182 and A183. Christopher Bond, Northumbrian Water's Project Manager, said: 'This work in the Sedgeletch area is part of a £1.7bn investment in work that will benefit the environment, being carried out across a five year period to 2030. 'Local projects like this all come together to make a big difference for our region and we know they are important to communities across the North East. 'Our project team will be doing everything we can to reduce the inevitable disruption, and we are grateful for the patience and understanding of people living and working in, as well as visiting to enjoy, these areas. The benefits to the environment we all enjoy will last a long time and we hope people will agree that this relatively short disruption will deliver improvements that make it worth experiencing.'