South Shields - Local Action

Our goal is to prevent pollution and sewage from entering rivers and seas across our region. 

• Storm overflows are an important part of our wastewater network because they protect customers’ homes and the environment. They operate automatically as a relief system during heavy rain, storm conditions, or if the sewers are overwhelmed because of more water or blockages and reduce the risk of flooding. 
• Watch our storm overflow information video (opens new window).
• Our digital interactive map (opens new window) shows up-to-date storm overflow information across the region. You can also watch our launch video of the map (opens new window).
• Information on our plans for Storm Overflows can be viewed on the national storm overflow interactive map (opens new window).
• We have also started a ground-breaking £20m project which is set to significantly reduce spills from storm overflows across Tyneside.
• The project, which is set to be the first of its kind in the UK, will see a combination of new technology, sensors and AI analytics used to lower the risk of overflows happening. 
• The “smart sewer” will help to reduce the impact of storm overflows on the region’s rivers and keep the high standards of the region’s bathing waters – with 32 of the region’s 34 bathing water currently meeting Defra’s top two standards of Excellent and Good. 

If you live in South Shields, your drinking water is supplied solely from Mosswood Water Treatment Works Sunderland Supply.

We’re investing c.£4.5bn in total in the region.

• This is the largest investment programme in the last 30 years. 
• c.£947m of this will reduce the use of storm overflows and improve bathing water quality.
• c.£8m will be spent on improving drinking water quality. 
• c.£7.5m extra to reduce leakage. 
• We’ll protect our network from power failures and flooding by investing £127m in adapting for climate change. 
• We will invest £50m to repair and replace the aging network of water pipes. 

Since the start of our Catchment Based Approach in 2014, we’ve played a key role in catchment management as part of the Tyne Catchment Partnership, sharing plans and activities with partners to improve the river and its contributing areas, including supporting local sub-catchment partnerships for the River Don and Ouseburn, and our work through the South Tyne Holistic Catchment project.

• We want to help others do their part to protect our environment. That’s why we’ve established the Thriving Catchments initiative, and are working with the national Rivers Trust, our local Tyne Rivers Trust, Northumberland Wildlife Trust and other local partners and farmers and land managers to look at managing pollutants in the Tyne catchment before they get to the river.
• This includes investigating sources of pollution throughout the Tyne which also impact drinking water sources for our abstraction upstream of South Shields. 

Bluespaces are water environments accessible to customers via road, footpath, bridleway, other public rights of way, or at a country park or beach.

• We made a pledge to improve 500km of Bluespaces for our customers by 2030. By 2025 we’ll be halfway there, after completing over 70 projects through partners, and we have big ambitions for delivering positively impactful projects where they are most needed in the second half of the programme.  
• So far, since its initiation in 2020, Bluespaces has helped deliver over 5,000 volunteer days and engaged over 700 volunteers across 40 projects. Our co-funding has helped plant nearly 8,000 new trees, created over 400 hectares of new wetland, and helped tackle eight different kinds of invasive non-native species (INNS), as well as enhancing access and recreational facilities for local communities.
• Please visit www.nwg.co.uk/responsibility/environment/bluespaces/our-scheme for more information on Bluespaces. 
• We encourage our customers and local groups to let us know where and what these should be. If you have any ideas, get in touch by emailing Bluespaces@nwl.co.uk 
• We have already invested £168,000 in the Tyne catchment to improve access, biodiversity and water quality to improve 31km of Bluespaces through a number of projects led by various partners.   

The completed projects near South Shields are: 

• Greening the Marina, Royal Quays Marina, North Shields (2021 - 2022) – 0.4km, led by Groundwork North East. We have delivered improvements to 0.4km of publicly accessible water environments at North Shields Royal Quays Marina. It helped revitalise the Marina and create a sustainable green ecosystem for native wildlife to flourish. It is part of a wider programme of improvements for the strategic Tyne Estuary Partnership (TEP). Improvements include the installation of a 50m2 floating ecosystem, anchored in place and planted with native salt tolerant plants. This greenery softens an otherwise hard urban environment and provides additional habitat for plants, birds and invertebrates.

• Marden Quarry, Cullercoats. Through this project, North Tyneside Council worked with us to deliver access and recreation improvements throughout Marden Quarry Local Nature Reserve. Marden Quarry is an important area of green and blue space located in a highly urban area, Near Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, and is popular for walking and recreation.

• Newcastle Quayside Floating Ecosystem, led by Groundwork North East. A first of its kind ‘floating nature island’ - the new 1,000 square foot ecosystem, which equates to approximately eight car parking spaces, and recreates habitat lost in industrialisation and urban development, contributes to improved water quality, and helps to green this section of the riverbank, fighting the dual climate and biodiversity crisis. 

The Branch Out fund supports projects that protect local ecosystems. Enhancing and linking habitats protects local flora and fauna by building their resilience to climate change.

• If you, or your organisation, are involved in a project doing this, then the Branch Out Fund might be able to help you!  Applications for grants of anywhere between £1 – £10,000 are very welcome. 
• You can read the guidance notes (opens new window) on the sorts of projects that quality for grant funding.
• Email applications to branchout@nwl.co.uk

Even after our planned big investments we still expect bills in the North East to be the lowest in England.

• We know our communities are facing a cost-of-living crisis with bills going up.
• We are committed to helping those that need it most. If you or anyone you know is struggling to pay their bills, please talk to us.
• There are lots of ways we can help. Try our eligibility checker to find out which of our financial support schemes you may be eligible for.

Are you passionate about caring for our local waterways and making a difference in your community? If you are then why not become a Water Ranger?

• Water Rangers are an enthusiastic group of local volunteers who roll up their sleeves and take positive local action by reporting any issues and notable wildlife they see in and around our local rivers and streams.  
• Don’t delay, email waterrangers@nwl.co.uk to join today.

We think it’s important to give back to make a positive impact in our local communities.

• All our teams are encouraged to volunteer to support community groups and charities through our Just an Hour scheme.
• This initiative gets our teams out in the communities we serve, supporting great causes. People choose causes that resonate with them personally - for at least 15 hours a year.
• Find out more about Just an Hour (opens new window).