Improvements to the sewerage network in Ivybridge

South West Water is carrying out repairs to a section of sewer beneath Leonards Road, Ivybridge.

Temporary traffic lights will be in place on Leonards Road for the next three to four weeks.

The emergency repairs in Leonards Road are part of a £225,000 planned investment to upgrade sections of the sewerage network in Ivybridge.

Over the next three months, South West Water and its H5O partners will be refurbishing 755 metres of sewer in the town to improve the service to residents and businesses.

The scheme is part of a five-year £42 million investment in the sewer network across the region to renovate sewers identified as being at risk of collapse and to alleviate potential flooding problems.

A range of techniques will be used during the project, including trenchless and 'no dig' technology where possible. No roads will be closed but some temporary traffic lights will be needed.

Work will start when the repairs in Leonards Road are complete, and is due to finish in December 2014.

Project manager Andy Young said: "We have carried out extensive survey work in Ivybridge to locate damaged sections of pipe. The problems found vary from partial collapses to roots growing through the pipes, which can cause blockages and flooding.

"We are using the latest technology available although there will be some traditional excavation work such as constructing new manhole chambers in order to maintain the network in the future.

"Residents and businesses affected will be notified before any work starts in their neighbourhood, but we will do our best to keep any disruption to a minimum."

Separately, South West Water is also working in Ivybridge to improve river and bathing water quality in South Devon ahead of the European Union's revised Bathing Water Directive coming into effect in 2015.

Construction work on an underground tank at the lower end of Keaton Road and Park Street started in June 2014 and will be completed by November 2014. This extra capacity in the sewerage network will reduce the number of storm discharges into the River Erme during extremely wet weather.

Alongside other improvement work planned in Ivybridge, Ermington, Modbury and Holbeton, this represents a £7.2 million investment in river and bathing water quality, which will benefit the tourism industry across South Devon.

For more information see www.southwestwater.co.uk/evencleanerseas