Northumbrian Water is installing new equipment at a number of its water treatment works serving more than one million customers to improve drinking water quality.

Work costing £3.2 million will be carried out at four works supplying areas of Northumberland, Tyneside, Wearside, Darlington and Teesside.

The equipment will be used to balance the pH and mineral content of the water to reduce potential corrosion of lead and iron pipes, which can cause discolouration and traces in supplies.

The scheme, which has been approved by the Drinking Water Inspectorate, will improve water quality and also reduce the frequency of pipe replacement.

The work will be carried out simultaneously, starting in October, at water treatment works at Broken Scar, Darlington; Mosswood, County Durham; Warkworth, Northumberland and Wear Valley, Weardale to be completed early in 2016.

Project Manager Glyn Jenkins said:

“This further improvement to customer service will happen behind the scenes at our treatment works and will help to ensure that we continue to supply ..clean, clear drinking water that tastes good.”