A £2.5 million scheme to replace approximately 7.5km of water mains in Aldridge, to improve the reliability and resilience of the water network, has started today.

The project will see ageing water mains replaced with durable, flexible plastic pipes that will improve the reliability of the area’s drinking water supply, reduce leakage and reduce supply interruptions.

This is part of the company’s biggest mains rehabilitation project to date. Over the next five years, 250km of pipelines will be replaced across the company’s two supply regions (South Staffs and Cambridge), three times more than what was replaced between 2020 and 2025.

Robert Boswell, Capital Delivery Director, said: "This scheme represents significant investment into the water network in Aldridge and will help to improve our service to customers in the area for generations.

"We have split the work into phases, minimising the impact on traffic, residents and businesses.

"We will work as efficiently as possible to keep this to a minimum while we make these improvements that will be beneficial for everyone in the future."

The scheme, which is being delivered by contract partner OnSite, will move around the village until the summer. The first phase starts on Severn Acres, Ridgeway, Vale View, Marshall Close and Pool Green.

Work will then move to other residential areas and busier roads around the village, including Walsall Road, Portland Road and Birmingham Road.

As the scheme progresses, temporary traffic lights and traffic management will be in use to allow the work to take place and to keep colleagues, residents and road users safe.  

Since July 2025, 15km of pipeline has been replaced across the supply region, with another 22.5km to be replaced by the end of March.

A further 50km will be replaced in the second year of the investment period across multiple schemes. Planning is underway for the final three years of the current investment period, between 2027 and 2030.

Over the next five years, we have committed to reducing leakage in the region by 20%.

The mains rehabilitation project is part of our £926 million investment to upgrade water services across its two supply regions.

For more information on our schemes, see planned work.