Anglian Water has unveiled a huge investment programme for the year ahead, worth £425million.
The money will be targeted at maintaining and improving customer services across the East of England.
Funds will be invested into the areas that customers say matter most to them, including reducing leakage even further, providing top quality drinking water, protecting against severe weather such as drought and flooding and tackling the impacts of climate change.
The investment comes in the third year of a £5 billion commitment to 2020, which will be paid for by average bills of just £1.15 per day for an entire family.
Jane Taylor, Head of Customer Services at Anglian Water, said: “Bills are still lower than they were four years ago thanks to the price reductions we promised back then. We’re always doing everything we can to be even more efficient at running the business, which translates into value for money for our customers.
“To strike the right balance we’re continuing to keep costs as low as possible long term while still investing heavily in the things customers care about most.
“Water meters are still the best way to save money, and with the average annual metered bill coming in £171 cheaper than customers who don’t use a meter, the savings speak for themselves. It’s a win-win because it’s free to switch to a meter, and if you aren’t completely satisfied you can switch back, for free, within two years.”
Some of the schemes over the next 12 months will include:
• £17 million to keep leakage levels at industry-leading lows
• £35 million at Heigham Water Treatment works in Norwich to protect the environment along the River Wensum and secure supplies for the growing city of Norwich
• £50 million improving, maintaining and refurbishing hundreds of water treatment works and water recycling centres
• £48 million maintaining, refurbishing and renewing parts of the 37,000km water pipe network
• £36 million maintaining, refurbishing and replacing parts of the 70,000km sewer network. £3 million of which will be used to survey and cleverly refurbish kilometres of sewers in places like Southend, Ipswich, Beccles, Caister, Runton and Long Bennington
• £18 million to extend and upgrade water recycling centres to accommodate the growing population in the region
• £16 million to replace 14km of water pipe in the Belstead area of Ipswich
• £15 million keeping sewers clear of fatbergs and wipes
• £8 million to connect hundreds more rural homes to the mains sewerage network for the first time, totalling £70 million by 2020
• £10 million to adopt and refurbish private pumping stations that are now the water company’s responsibility
• £8 million to reduce flooding from sewers as part of a £45 million focus that will protect hundreds of properties from flooding by 2020.
