Anglian Water are undertaking air valve relocation works in Wymondham Road. The road will be temporarily closed (except for pedestrian access) for the duration of the works. See the Temporary Closure notice below.
Prior to 2011 Wreningham did not have a mains sewage system. Many properties had either single or shared septic tanks. Residents had to make their own arrangements for emptying these tanks. For some this was an on-going problem as they were continually having to arrange for the emptying of their septic tanks to significant cost and inconvenience.
In 2011 Anglian Water installed a “First time sewage system” in Wreningham as part of their policy to reduce the number of septic tanks in the region. Instead of a gravity driven system, this project introduced a vacuum sewage system to serve Church Road, Hethel Road, Ashwellthorpe Road and Wymondham Road.
These pipes converged on a new main sewage pipe at the top of Mill Lane near the school. A pumping station was built half way along Mill Lane. It maintains the vacuum (or low pressure) which draws the sewage into the next part of the system. Here gravity takes the sewage through a new pipe to a pre-existing installation situated by Stephens Road in Top Row.
How does it work?
Image from airvac.com
The sewage pipe from the house uses gravity to deliver sewage to the chamber. This will trigger the trap to access the vacuum in the main pipe. This will then draw the sewage out of the chamber and away towards the pumping station in Mill Lane and from there onto the installation in Top Row.
- An animated YouTube video which shows how the vacuum system works in general – https://flovac.com/how-vacuum-sewerage-works/
- A detailed explanation is here – https://www.airvac.com/en/vacuum-sewer-system
- and from Anglian Water, here.
Am I connected?
Whilst many decided to connect to the system at the time of installation, not all did.
One sign that you are connected is that the property will be in receipt of a regular sewage bills from Anglian Water!
The most obvious sign that you are connected is two part:
- A metal inspection cover for the below ground sewage chamber. This is often within the property’s curtilage, however some are in or near the road.
- Note this may be shared by up to 4 properties
- A silver coloured, metal, cylindrical pipe set vertically in the roadside verge outside/near your property. “Anglian Water” is inscribed in blue on it with a designation number e.g. “B1”.
- This pipe is the visible component of a vacuum trap which connects to a sewage pipe.
Who do I contact if it is not working correctly?
This sewage system is managed by Anglian Water. You will need to contact them in the event of any actual or apparent system failure:
Telephone: 0800 145 145 / Email: Customerservices@anglianwater.co.uk
Michael Hill, October 2023
NCC Highway Rangers will be visiting Wreningham parish over the coming weeks. They use local knowledge to identify defects that may develop in between their routine inspections.
Their priorities are the essential elements of safety on the Highway Network and associated paths.
If you are aware of any issues with the following, please let our Clerk know by 12 July:
Parish Clerk – Mrs Tina Higlett
Crofton House, Norwich Road, Long Stratton, Norwich NR15 2PG
Tel: 01508 530733
E-mail: clerk.wpc@gmail.com
- Potholes – provide an accurate location, the dimensions width, length, depth), the position on the Highway (i.e. centre, wheel track, side).
- Regular incidents of standing or flooding water – additional inspection of gullies and grips at these sites – Location and area affected. Whether any features may be blocked (i.e. gullies/grips). State whether the water eventually clears over time and if it only occurs during heavy rain. (Recent heavy rain fall may cause issues out of their control. They can clear gulley pots and grips but only within the highway boundary).
- Signs – ensuring visibility and good condition of Highway signs, removal of illegal signs
- Paths – need for siding out and ensuring a safe surface for the user
- Public Rights of Way – needing clear access within the village
Please note the following on ditches, hedges and utilities:
- Ditches – In almost all cases ditches are the responsibility of the adjacent landowner. First inform the Parish Council which will contact the landowner directly. If the landowner refuses to act on the Parish request we will then pursue this on your behalf (provided we have contact details of the landowner).
- Hedges – Almost always the responsibility of the adjacent landowner. It is always best if the Parish Council contacts the landowner directly. If the landowner refuses to act on the Parish request we will then pursue this on your behalf (provided we have contact details of the landowner).
- Anglian Water and BT – Both of these companies respond quickest to online reports, and their preference is for this to be done by locals with knowledge of the location and area. Essentially: if their covers are leaking, loose or broken they are fixed by the utility company – we would fix potholes around the covers as long as they are not loose. Anglian Water reports can be called through on 0800 771881 and BT defects can be called through on 0800 023 2023 (option 1).
Normal service
- They still respond to enquiries regarding highway maintenance and public safety risk, using the reporting system (www.norfolk.gov.uk/highwaysproblem) and signing into your ‘My Norfolk’ Parish account.
- Highway teams will continue to carry out routine and reactive inspections and programme repairs as necessary.
- Resources and access to materials may affect their ability to respond to some lower priority defects.
For further information contact Hannah Denney, Area Technician
Highways, Transport & Waste
Tel: 0344 800 8020
Ketteringham Highways Depot – Station Lane, Ketteringham, Norfolk, NR9 3AZ
A new connection for water being made by Anglian Water. A Temporary Traffic Regulation Order (STRO9120) affecting the U78011 Hethel Road from its junction with C186 Wymondham Road for 312m southwards. See document below:
In response to the recent serious flooding in the county, the Norfolk Strategic Flood Alliance (NSFA) has been formed to:
- monitor remedial and preventive works
- prepare a strategy to meet similar and anticipated events due to climate change
Norfolk ALC is on the NSFA steering committee to provide the Parish Voice and influence Alliance decisions e.g.:
- An information leaflet is being prepared for distribution (via the Mardle in Wreningham) but see here.
- A hotline (number to be announced) will be set up to act as a single point of contact to the services involved
- The public are asked for their suggestions: wellbeing@NorfolkALC.gov.uk
- To seek the support of the press and media to keep the public informed of progress.
- A Zoom webinar is being arranged for 24th March at 7 p.m. with presenters from Anglian Water, Water Resources East and the Fire Service, with a Q&A session at the end.
See our earlier post here
Church Road, Wreningham, Norfolk
01 March — 05 March
Delays likely – Traffic control (two-way signals)
Works location: O/S Nyika to O/S Bird in the hand PH, Church Road.
Works description: Access 23 m/h for cleaning and maintenance. Approx 20 min each M/H No excavation. The use of Temp 15 min delay boards, roaming 2 Way Lights and Give and Take where road widths allow. Only one manhole will be worked on at any one time. We have other planned works in close proximity; only one set of TM to be in operation at a time. Emergency vehicles, pedestrians and residents will always be given access. Work to be carried out between 09:30 ana 14:30 to avoid TS times
Responsibility for works: Anglian Water
Current status: Planned work about to start
Works reference: AD00258153584_2
Ashwellthorpe Road, Wreningham, Norfolk
01 March — 05 March
Delays possible – Traffic control (two-way signals)
Works location: O/S Hawthorne Cottage to O/S Green Meadows, Ashwellthorpe Road
Works description: Access 11 m/h for cleaning and maintenance. Approx 20 min each M/H No excavation. The use of Temp 15 min delay boards, roaming 2 Way Lights and Give and Take where road widths allow. Only one manhole will be worked on at any one time. We have other planned works in close proximity; only one set of TM to be in operation at a time. Emergency vehicles, pedestrians and residents will always be given access.
Responsibility for works: Anglian Water
Current status: Planned work about to start
Works reference: AD00258153584_1
Mill Lane, Wreningham, Norfolk
01 March — 05 March
Delays unlikely – Traffic control (give & take)
Works location: Mill Lane opposite Wreningham School
Works description: Access 1 m/h for cleaning and maintenance. Approx 20 min each M/H No excavation. The use of Temp 15 min delay boards. Only one manhole will be worked on at any one time. We have other planned works in close proximity; only one set of TM to be in operation at a time. Emergency vehicles, pedestrians and residents will always be given access
Responsibility for works: Anglian Water
Current status: Planned work about to start
Works reference: AD0025815584
25 September Update
As promised, here is the name and contact details for the Anglian Water project manager:
Mick Renshaw
mick.renshaw@balfourbeatty.com
07967 689088
23 August – Update
From next week Anglian Water will commence their 6 month project to upgrade the water supply within Wreningham. See previous posts.
There are two preparatory tasks for them to address:
-
To install a temporary pipe in Mill Lane to maintain the water supply during the project.
-
To establish the project / site base behind the pumping station on Mill Lane.
1. Mill Lane pipe.
This will connect one side of the village supply to another during the whole of the 6 month project. Once the project is complete then the pipe will be removed. The objective is to provide an alternative supply line and thereby ensure the water supply has as few supply suspensions as possible during the next six months.
Next week the pipe will be laid to connect the “Wash Out” point on the Village Hall plot (in the corner nearest the school) and the Fire Hydrant near 41 Mill Lane.
The 6” diameter pipe will be laid around the extreme edge of the hall grounds, exiting through the hedge onto Mill Lane verge. It will continue along the South side verge of Mill Lane to near 41 Mill Lane. The pipe will cross several field gateways and one residential driveway. In those cases the pipe will be placed in a shallow trench to ensure the access remains unobstructed.
2. Project / site base.
The area behind the pumping station on Mill Lane will be used to hold construction materials, site offices, parking for equipment and vehicles, etc. This will mean that Anglian Water traffic will be using Mill Lane throughout the project. Users of Mill Lane need to consider this as well as the planned road closures already posted.
It is hoped to post in the near future, the name and contact details of the Anglian Water site manager should residents need to discuss issues.
29th July
Last month we warned of the intention by Anglian Water to undertake significant roadworks on all the roads within the Wreningham & Top Row. They have just contacted the Parish Council to confirm that they are replacing the cast iron water pipes across the village. See their letter – Water Mains Replacement
They are arranging for a community drop-in on 15th August from 2 pm to 8 pm in the Village Hall. They invite you to come along and find out more about what is planned and how it will affect you.
The Anglian Water project has been mentioned on this site in earlier posts.
The documentation authorising the temporary closure of Hethel Road & Church Road have been received and can be inspected here:
Wreningham STRO1094 (Phase 1 and 2) Order
Wreningham STRO1094 (Phase 1 and 2) PT
Wreningham STRO1094 (Phase 1 and 2) HM
Contact details for comment / further information are contained within these documents.
Anglian Water, from 1st October 2016, have assumed responsibility for Private Pumping Stations (PPSs) – you have to look closely but they are referring to sewage/waste water systems. They are running a campaign to find the unregistered PPSs. So if you have one and want to save yourself the cost of maintaining it, contact Anglian Water to register it.
More information here. If you have any questions about this , contact Anglian Water at privatepumpingstations@anglian