More than 30km of new pipeline have been constructed by Farrans in the first phase of a project to ensure water supply resilience and quality in north-east England.
Completion of engineering work on Phase 1 of Northumbrian Water’s Project Pipeline: County Durham and Tees Valley is described as a major milestone in the project.
The current long-term investment project includes a total of 57km of new pipeline, connecting water treatment in Upper Teesdale with communities across the south of County Durham and the Tees Valley.
The route was designed to maximise the use of gravity, minimising energy consumption by reducing the reliance on pumping and reducing operating costs.
The £92.5m first phase has involved the creation of a pipeline between Lartington Water Treatment Works and storage reservoirs at Whorley, near Gainford, and Shildon.
The route required 15 road crossings, including tunnelling beneath the A68 arterial road – one of three A roads crossed – and tunnelling and laying dual pipes beneath the River Tees, passing between shafts built on either side of the river.
Farrans project manager Barry McDonagh said it was a technical and at times challenging project as the team navigated roads and rivers through changeable seasons.
Northumbrian Water project manager James Dawes said Phase 1 had been “a massive undertaking”.
“Many of the pipes we have replaced were over 100 years old, and the route we have taken was designed not only to utilise the force of gravity to drive the flow of water, rather than energy consuming pumps, but also to avoid passing through Barnard Castle. We are not only creating a pipeline that reduces operational carbon consumption, we will ultimately be able to take some larger mains that pass through towns out of use, to minimise the risk of disruption to customers from things like bursts,” he said.
