Northumbrian Water and delivery partner Mott MacDonald Bentley have reached a major milestone on an £11 million project designed to protect wildlife in the River Tyne while maintaining a critical component of the North East's water supply infrastructure. The scheme at Ovingham Raw Water Pumping Station has seen the installation of the first pair of specialist eel screens, with further screens planned as part of a wider programme aimed at protecting the critically endangered European eel and supporting fish populations within the river. 

While environmental protection sits at the heart of the project, the works are also focused on safeguarding an important operational asset. Ovingham abstracts raw water from the River Tyne before supplying Horsley Water Treatment Works and the Great Southern Reservoir at Whittle Dene, supporting a wider network that serves more than 800,000 people across Newcastle and Tyneside. Brian Ford, Project Manager at Northumbrian Water, described the installation as "a really important step for both the project and the health of the River Tyne […] protecting the European eel is a responsibility we take seriously." 

The project forms part of wider efforts to improve fish passage and reduce the impact of essential water infrastructure on migratory species. European eel populations have declined significantly across Europe in recent decades, leading to increased investment in measures designed to support their recovery.  

For Northumbrian Water, the latest milestone builds on a broader programme of investment at Ovingham. Previous upgrades to the pumping station included the installation of new 680kW vertical turbine pumps, replacement variable-speed drives, upgraded control systems and enhanced electrical infrastructure, designed to improve long-term reliability and operational performance. 

Delivering the works has presented a number of technical challenges. Construction activities have been undertaken whilst maintaining the operation of a live water supply asset, with teams also managing seasonal river conditions, flood risk and ecological constraints around the site. 

The engineering significance of the project extends beyond the installation of new screening technology. Ovingham remains a strategically important abstraction asset within the region's water network, making reliability and resilience key considerations throughout the programme. 

The River Tyne is widely recognised as one of England's most important river systems for migratory fish species, including salmon and sea trout. Protecting those habitats while maintaining essential infrastructure requires close collaboration between engineers, environmental specialists and operational teams. 

As utilities continue investing in infrastructure that delivers both operational and environmental benefits, the Ovingham project demonstrates how existing assets can be adapted to meet modern ecological standards without compromising performance. For the construction team, the successful installation of the first eel screens represents an important step towards completing a project that combines engineering delivery, environmental protection and long-term infrastructure resilience within one of the North East's most significant river environments.