This division of Northumbrian Water Ltd supplies high-quality drinking water to 794,000 properties, distributing up to 670 Ml/d. In Essex, the two main treatment facilities are Hanningfield Water Treatment Works (WTW) near Chelmsford and Layer WTW near Colchester. These are supplied by two large reservoirs, Abberton and Hanningfield.
Case Study:
Layer & Langford Pipeline
Introduction:
ALD, leveraging its longstanding partnership with Northumbrian Water, is assisting with the constructing of a crucial 20km pipeline between Layer and Langford WTW. This project addresses water quality challenges and ensures a stable supply for Essex and Suffolk Water's 794,000 customers by optimising reservoir balance and treatment processes.
Overview
ALD, with a longstanding relationship with Northumbrian Water and a history of successfully delivering numerous projects, specialist plant and equipment as specified in our framework agreement is being used to construct this critical pipeline for Essex and Suffolk Water.
Low rainfall and hot weather in 2016 and 2022 compromised raw water quality at Abberton Reservoir, challenging the biological processes at Layer WTW and placing unprecedented demand on Hanningfield WTW, which led to critically low water levels at Hanningfield Reservoir.
ALD: A Proven Partner in Infrastructure Development
To address the imbalance in water levels between Abberton and Hanningfield reservoirs, Northumbrian Water sought enhancement funding in AMP7 to construct a 20 km pipeline connecting Layer Water Treatment Works and Langford Water Treatment Works.
This pipeline would enable the reliable treatment of water from Abberton at Langford, a physio-chemical treatment facility, thereby allowing water from the River Chelmer and River Blackwater to augment and stabilize Hanningfield Reservoir’s levels. This strategic infrastructure improvement aims to bolster the resilience of the region’s water supply system against future environmental challenges.
The Project
In 2019, Essex & Suffolk Water began planning a pipeline to support flow rates up to 50 Ml/d, the optimal rate for reservoir balancing and ensuring a secure supply during prolonged droughts. This critical project is designed to address water scarcity issues and improve overall water management in the region.
As the contractor, ALD is responsible for the provision of specialist plant and resources to assist the pipeline installation and has overcome numerous challenges, including environmental concerns and technical complexities, to ensure successful project completion, demonstrating their expertise and commitment to delivering high-quality infrastructure projects.
Implementation by ALD
ALD is leveraging the existing Abberton pumping station, capable of delivering up to 255 Ml/d to Layer WTW. The pipeline starts with a strategic connection to raw water mains from Abberton Reservoir to Layer WTW, using gravity to transport water to Langford WTW. The water is stored in two bankside reservoirs, each with a 35 Ml capacity. The pipeline’s flow is regulated by a downstream control valve, maintaining positive pressure and sufficient differential pressure throughout the pipeline at maximum flow, ensuring efficient, reliable, and continuous operation.
