Anglian Water is investing £15.7 million to install two new sewer pipes along a 7.4km route around Huntingdon – the work started in June and is expected to finish by the end of 2027.

The pipes will run alongside each other, creating more capacity in the local sewer network and making it more resilient as the community grows.

The East of England is the driest part of the country and one of the fastest growing, with more than 720,000 people expected to move to the region by 2043. This, combined with the increasing impacts of climate change, mean the water network and sewer systems need to be able to expand with the growing population.

Szadrach Peplowski, Site Manager for the project, said:

“The completion of this scheme will ensure Huntingdon’s infrastructure is resilient for years to come, while continuing to serve a growing community and protect the environment from pollution incidents.

While customers won’t see any impact to their water and sewerage services, they might see us working in fields nearby or notice more of our teams in the area.”

Anglian Water teams have set up site compounds, welfare facilities and working areas at five locations along the route. Four teams are now working simultaneously in fields alongside the A141, preparing the ground and welding sections of pipe ready for installation.

Through most of the fields, pipes will be installed by digging a trench, laying the pipes into place and then filling the ground back in.

Where the route crosses roads and the East Coast Main Line railway, specialist drilling equipment will be used to install the pipes underground, helping to reduce disruption. This is a complex operation requiring careful planning and close collaboration with Network Rail.

The first drill shot beneath King’s Ripton Road has already been completed, with the second due to follow. Further drill shots will then take both pipes beneath the A141, followed by the railway crossing, which is due to be completed before Christmas.

Further information and updates as the work progresses can be found on Anglian Water’s website: anglianwater.co.uk/your-local-area/report-an-issue. The latest video on our progress can also be found here.

This work is being delivered by Anglian Water’s long-term delivery partner, the @one Alliance.

The @one Alliance brings together specialist teams from Anglian Water Asset Delivery and expert partner companies including Balfour Beatty, Barhale, Binnies, Mott MacDonald Bentley (MMB), MWH Treatment, Sweco and Skanska