Work has started on an £250,000 project to protect the quality and resilience of drinking water for people in Essex.

Essex & Suffolk Water is renewing 1.1km of water mains in St Lawrence which support the water supply for more than 600 customers.

By replacing older pipes that serve the area, the investment will reduce the risk of bursts or leaks, which can impact upon customers’ supplies and cause an impact on the local road network when repairs are needed.

The project will see the renewal of mains running between Bradwell Road and the entrance to the St Lawrence Holiday Park, with the majority of work taking place in fields running parallel to Main Road.

Essex & Suffolk Water and its partners, Lowman Group, will be working to keep customers and other visitors to the area updated in advance of the smaller section of work, which will require traffic management.

Work began on January 27 and is expected to be complete by the end of March 2025.

Daren Still, Essex & Suffolk Water’s Project Manager, said: “The water main that serves this area is ageing and in need of replacement, so this investment will meet that need, adding protection to the resilience and quality of customers’ water supplies.

“We have worked with Essex County Council in the planning of the project to minimise the impact upon road users while we work, and will be keeping in contact with key leisure facility providers to support them at the points when we are required to work in the highway.”

People can keep up to date with the project by navigating to the Main Road project page at www.eswcommunityportal.co.uk.