Weymouth improvements
Introduction
We are investing millions of pounds to improve the water supply and sewerage infrastructure in Weymouth and Portland.
Many of our water mains in the town are more than 110 years old and have been supplying water for decades.
They have had a good innings but inevitably they are beginning to reach the end of their lives.
Water mains are being relined or replaced as part of our Weymouth water supply improvement programme which will safeguard supply for customers by reducing the likelihood of bursts.
With 453km of sewers in the town, some more than 100 years old, we are also investigating the condition of the sewerage infrastructure.
Our Weymouth sewer renovation work will involve sewers being cleaned so their condition can be assessed.
Where structural defects are discovered a remedial programme will involve sewers being renovated.
Two major pumping stations at Radipole and Victoria Square, Portland are to be refurbished and some of the aeration facilities at Weymouth sewage treatment works will be replaced to ensure we continue to meet discharge standards.
We plan to improve six combined sewer overflows in the area to reduce their impact on inland and coastal water quality during and after intense storms.
As a further safeguard we are also reviewing assets in the area to minimise the risks of any failure. And we are ensuring that contingency plans for any critical equipment are updated and shared with local Environment Agency and environmental health staff.
How will the work affect you?
We are going to carry out all our major works by summer 2011 so main roads can be resurfaced before the Olympic Games start and we can thus avoid digging up newly surfaced roads.
We will be working together with other utility companies to reduce the impact construction work will have on motorists and residents and working closely with Dorset County Council highways department.
Through using techniques such as pipe-bursting and relining sewers using the latest ‘no-dig’ technology we are able to reduce the amount of excavations required to modernise water mains and sewers.