Final preparations are underway by Essex & Suffolk Water, part of the Northumbrian Water Group, for the laying of a new £20 million, 19.5km water pipeline to enhance supplies for customers in Essex.

The pipeline, which will run between Layer-de-la-Haye and Langford, will help make water supplies to customers in those areas more resilient.

Years of preparation and planning have taken place, ready for the main pipelaying phase of the project to start next month. This is expected to take around nine months to complete, before testing takes place to allow the pipes to be put into supply.

In 2023, work began on the ground, with river and road crossings completed, archaeological explorations carried out, and final route adjustments made to ensure any impact on the environment was minimised.

From mid-February, 3,545 pipes are being brought into the area and positioned along the route, ready to be joined together and placed in the ground when construction begins.

The new pipeline will help to ensure that water can be more easily moved between the company’s raw water reservoirs to be treated and distributed across the Essex area, helping to protect supplies and the environment.

Daniel Wilson, Essex & Suffolk Water’s Senior Project Manager, said:

“2023 was a really busy year for us as all the planning that had gone into taking this project onto the ground started to pay off. Much of the work we did last year, such as the road crossings, river crossings and ecological mitigations means that what is left is largely pipelaying on private land, with minimal disruption for people living in the area.

“However, it represents a really exciting time for the project because, weather and other conditions permitting, by the end of this year, we will have nearly 20km of new pipeline laid. The local communities and landowners have been hugely supportive, helping us get to this point, and we’re ready to get going on this huge construction phase.”