A long‑term commitment to service improvement: Northumbrian Water Group

Northumbrian Water Group

www.nwl.co.uk
LinkedIn: NWG (Northumbrian Water Group)

There aren’t many things that are more fundamental to life than water.

Turn on the tap and out it comes. Push a button and flush it away.

We seldom think twice about it.

But it is something that is absolutely essential to modern life and the economy around us.

It supports households, communities, industry and agriculture alike.

It flows through the Tyne, the Wear, the Tees and is part of the North East’s very fabric.

From healthcare to food production, hospitality to manufacturing and everything in between, reliable water and wastewater services are essential for growth and success.

Yet much of the pipework nestled deep underground, transporting millions of litres of water a day, was built many decades ago.

And as the population multiplies, demand for water surges and weather patterns become more unpredictable, it is vital for networks to become more resilient to futureproof ageing assets and Victorian-style infrastructure.

Now, a new campaign branded The Big Upgrade is set to make waves when it comes to completely transforming the water industry and improving service for customers and businesses in the North East.

Fronted locally by Northumbrian Water, and amplified nationally by Water UK, the campaign will highlight the most significant transformation made in generations, with the country’s water infrastructure getting a full facelift, building resilience and supporting economic growth along the way.

The nationwide campaign will bring visibility and coherence to the massive investments the sector is making, demonstrating to customers that national investment translates into real local improvements.

For Northumbrian Water, this involves a huge £4.5 billion investment in environmental improvements, network upgrades and new treatment works between 2025 and 2030, to make services the best they can be for the people and businesses of the North East.

The Big Upgrade is about turning national ambition into visible, local progress, taking it from a countrywide campaign to real change on the ground in our streets.

Streets like the ones that run alongside the iconic Ouseburn, where £6 million improvements to the wastewater network are being carried out to reduce the use of storm overflows in Tyneside.

In County Durham, a £26.9 million programme is being carried out to upgrade three sewage treatment works, as well as a further £44.1 million investment in storm overflows.

In Middlesbrough, 23 kilometres of water mains are being replaced as part of a £5 million investment in water quality that will protect supplies for 2600 homes and businesses in the area.

And in Berwick, a £175 million project is taking place to strengthen the sewer network and construct sustainable drainage – improving the environment for the communities who love where they live.

For the North East, this means fewer leaks, fewer pollution incidents, more resilient supplies and healthier rivers.

For businesses, it means stronger reliability and confidence that critical infrastructure can support future growth.

For the economy, it represents a significant investment in the resilience of the region.

Northumbrian Water is on track to help to create 3000 jobs per year through its supply chain and add £5.7 billion to the North East economy through the use of local suppliers.

Already, around 60 pence of every £1 spent by the company goes back into the regions it serves.

Delivering such an ambitious plan requires skilled engineers, project managers, scientists, digital specialists and operational teams – supporting thousands of jobs and further employment across the supply chain.

At a regional level, it also stimulates innovation and contributes to further regeneration, as well as to the delivery of the wider ambitions of the region, supporting the North East Combined Authority’s ten-year Local Growth Plan, which seeks to create tens of thousands of jobs, raise productivity and living standards, and close the gap with the rest of the UK.

The Big Upgrade will put transparency at the forefront, showing exactly what goes into these huge changes.

Both the national and the local campaign will span outdoor advertising, digital channels, local engagement and on-site information, so that household customers, businesses and stakeholders are being shown not just what is happening, but why it matters and how it benefits them.

Water UK’s central website provides clear, accessible information on how water and wastewater systems work, alongside regional links to local projects and updates, which will help to demystify the world of capital investment and demonstrate the value of every pound invested.

Jennie Collingwood, Northumbrian Water’s head of corporate affairs, says: “This campaign represents an exciting opportunity to talk to customers and businesses about the investments we are making in the region, which are our biggest and most ambitious yet.

“Through The Big Upgrade, we are explaining our decisions openly, sharing progress and being honest about the challenges the sector faces.

“We have listened to our customers, and we are taking accountability and strengthening our essential services.

“This is not a short-term campaign; it is a long-term commitment to service improvement.

“Its success will be measured not only in pounds invested, but in outcomes delivered – from cleaner rivers, more resilient networks, reduced leakage, improved customer service and infrastructure fit for a changing climate.

“It is a shared national effort, delivered locally, and designed to serve today’s needs and those of generations to come.

“And we couldn’t be prouder to be leading all of this for the North East.”

To find out more about Northumbrian Water and The Big Upgrade, visit www.nwl.co.uk