Northumbrian Water has completed a £3 million investment at Tunstall reservoir in County Durham which has helped to enhance safety at one of Weardale’s most iconic visitor attractions.
Work on the project at Tunstall Reservoir in Wolsingham, which started in the summer of 2023, included maintenance and resilience work at the site, building in enhancements to the dam and spillway that will add protection in the case of emergencies.
Working with partners Esh-Stantec, the water company filled an old shaft and tunnel, originally designed for drainage purposes, with expert support from mine rescue teams being required due to the necessary confined space working.
A new transfer pipe was also installed within the structure of the dam, meaning water could be safely drained down from the reservoir more quickly in case of emergencies, helping to lower levels more rapidly and increase safety.
The new water pipe can transfer water from the west side of the dam, across to settlement tanks, before the water enters the spillway on the eastern end, into Waskerley Beck, and downstream to the River Wear.
On the spillway itself, concrete slabs were overlaid on old stone blocks, to further preserve the structure. Finally, new survey points have been installed on the dam to help monitor any movement in the structure.
While Tunstall Reservoir is no longer a direct part of the water supply network, following the closure of the neighbouring water treatment works in 2003 it is an important environmental facility, used to help regulate water levels in the River Wear.
Paul Wood, Northumbrian Water’s Project Manager, said:
“This essential maintenance will help ensure the future resilience of the dam at Tunstall Reservoir, as well as enhance our ability to react quickly in the case of any emergency.”
Amiblu, a global leader in Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) pipe systems for wastewater, stormwater, drinking water, irrigation, hydropower, and industrial applications, has announced the appointment of Martyn Turton as its Sales Director for the UK & Ireland, driving strategic market development in the infrastructure and water sectors, effective immediately.
As a project manager at Metasphere, a Grundfos-owned remote telemetry company at the cutting edge of innovation, Fey McHarg, has witnessed firsthand how the intelligent harnessing of data, specifically through the data-as-a-service model, is fundamentally reshaping and revolutionising the water sector.
Attendees at next month’s National Civils Show, Floodex, National Drainage Show and Waterways Management on 26th and 27th November are set to benefit from an expert speaker line-up and the opportunity to visit a wide range of exhibitors all co-located in one place at Excel, London, one of the UK’s leading international exhibition and convention centres.
Tackling leakage is one of the fastest and most cost-effective ways for utilities to bolster water security, writes Ben Crabtree, Product Line Director, Ovarro, revealing how the potential of smart technologies is being demonstrated around the world.
Hear how Scottish Water has completed its £235 million Ayrshire Glasgow Resilience Project - customers across Greater Glasgow, Ayrshire and East Renfrewshire will now benefit from a more secure and resilient water supply.
Hear how United Utilities is accelerating its investment to reduce spills from storm overflows across the Northwest.
Find out more about the remarkable career opportunities on offer at WSP - scroll down to watch the inspirational video.