Northumbrian Water has invested £4.9million in a major project to help protect water quality and supplies for residents in County Durham.

The water company has renewed 20km of water mains in Annfield Plain, replacing old cast iron pipes with new plastic piping.

The work, which was carried out by the water company’s partner, United Infrastructure, will help ensure more than 2,500 customers’ properties continue to receive high quality tap water. Replacing the older mains also reduces the risk of the pipes bursting, helping to protect the supplies.

The project started in June 2024 and has seen teams working throughout the area.

Brian Hardy, Northumbrian Water’s Project Manager, said:

“This has been an important investment for our customers in Annfield Plain, who now have a more resilient water network, thanks to the renewal of the mains, which will also protect the quality of the water to their homes.

“We appreciate how disruptive it can be when such work is taking place in a community, and we are very grateful for the patience and understanding shown by our customers during the course of this project.”