PR1818

24th January 2008

New water mains for Borehamwood and Shenley

Three Valleys Water is continuing it’s investment of £4.2 million to upgrade 26kms of the network of underground water mains which carry vital supplies of water each day to residents, businesses and schools in and around Borehamwood and Shenley.

Work has started in Theobald Street, above Aycliffe Road working down towards Shenley Road. Work in Shenley road is starting this week at the junction of Clarendon Road working towards the Station roundabout. The work in Theobald Street is due for completion towards the end of 2008 and Shenley Road, with no major complications should be completed by the end of April 2008. This work is being carried out on behalf of Three Valleys Water by their contractor, Balfour Beatty Utility Solutions Ltd and in conjunction with Herts Highways, who will be resurfacing the road once the mains work is completed.

The resurfacing work has been programmed in partnership with Three Valleys Water to ensure the best use of the highway and to minimise disruption to the local community. This work is scheduled to be carried out in the summer, to make best use of the school holidays.

It will be business as usual for all the shops in Shenley Road during the work. For anyone who would like more information on the scheme, the contractors will have a mobile unit situated in Shenley Road from 10am – 3pm at Borehamwood Market on Tuesday 29 January, 12 February and 26 February. Further details about the Herts Highways work will be made available nearer the time, but there will be a representative at the mobile information unit who will be able to answer any questions about any future road works.

Some of these existing water mains were laid 70 years ago and although they have given many years of service they are reaching the end of their useful lives. The majority of these pipes are cast iron, and some sections have corroded and begun to weaken, this has made them vulnerable to leaks and bursts.

By replacing targeted sections of the water mains network, Three Valleys Water hopes to prevent further bursts in this area and aims to ensure that the tap water supplied to local people will be of the highest quality for many years to come.

Andy Smith, Managing Director of Three Valleys Water, said: “This water mains renewal scheme in Borehamwood & Shenley is part of a much larger investment programme of maintaining and renewing our underground pipe network to provide a reliable water supply to our customers. Without this investment, the mains would continue to deteriorate, causing bursts, leaks and disruption to service. We are working closely with the Hertfordshire Highways Authority to try to keep traffic disruption to a minimum.”

All residents and businesses affected by this scheme have been contacted by Three Valleys Water to keep them informed about the work. Vulnerable and elderly customers are also being encouraged to notify the company of their special needs by registering on the Safeguard scheme by applying online or contacting the call centre 0845 782 3333. Residents and road users will be notified of any traffic management arrangements in due course

Details of the streets involved will be issued on the major works section of the Three Valleys Water website.

Ends

For further information please contact Public Relations, tel: 01707 277110, fax: 01707 277213, website: www.3valleys.co.uk

Note to Editors:

About us
Three Valleys Water has been supplying water to the local community for more than 130 years and is committed to delivering a high quality water service to all its customers . It now provides over 870 million litres of water each day to three million customers, in parts of Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Surrey, the London Boroughs of Harrow and Hillingdon and parts of the London Boroughs of Barnet, Brent, Ealing, and Enfield. The supply area covers a total of 3,700 square kilometres, stretching from Luton and Royston in the north to Guildford in the south, and from Berkhamsted in the west to Dunmow in the east.

Three Valleys Water is the UK’s largest water supply only company and is part of Veolia Water, the world leader in water and wastewater management. If you spot a leak call the Leakspotters hotline on 0800 376 5325 or use our online leakage form.