THOUSANDS of metres of new pipework is set to be laid by Thames Water in an attempt to solve North Swindon's reoccurring burst pipe issue. 

The utility company has found itself contending with multiple sewage leaks into the River Ray because of faults at the Haydon End pumping station over the last year.

But now work has begun to lay a new sewage pipe from the Taw Hill pumping station near the Tawny Owl pub to the Barnfield treatment works to alleviate pressure on the A4198 Thamesdown Drive. 

Swindon Advertiser: Thames Water has begun work on the projectThames Water has begun work on the project (Image: Roger Ogle)

Tunnelling has started at Purton Road and will emerge along the River Ray Parkway path where the pipe will be laid in a trench.

Trees planted in the area over ten years ago have been dug up to make way for a builder's compound.

The job involves areas of pipework that will be installed via directional drilling and a majority of other areas that will require open excavation. 

Thames Water believes that this will be complete and 'online' by April 19, 2024. 

Swindon Advertiser: Thames Water's new pipework plans to help prevent River Ray sewage leaksThames Water's new pipework plans to help prevent River Ray sewage leaks (Image: Thames Water)

The latest leak occurred earlier this year in March with Thames Water warning of disruption in the area until things could be resolved. 

Before that and another small incident in January, a major repair effort on a sewage pipe in the area was carried out in November 2022, with a row of tankers descending on the area to prevent any further contamination of local waterways. 

This also followed a similar incident in August which required as many as 20 tanker trucks to deal with it. 

A document detailing the condition of the current pipe pumping the sewage in the area included several photos taken in November detailing areas of pipe that were worn and corroded. 

Swindon Advertiser: Damaged pipes near the Haydon End sewage worksDamaged pipes near the Haydon End sewage works (Image: Thames Water)

In normal conditions, Haydon End Pumping Station can pump 144 litres per second. That would fill an Olympic-sized Swimming Pool in just over four and a half hours.

So when it bursts around 35 tankers are operating with specialist pumps having to be installed to fill the tankers.

A temporary fix has been put in place, a tanker filling manifold, to enable tankers to be filled directly using the high-powered pumps in the pumping station. This reduces the amount of time it takes to set up the tankering operation and to fill up a tanker.