Essential work to upgrade the water supply in Butt Lane, Burgh Castle, will last five weeks and lead to a road closure.

Essex & Suffolk Water is carrying out the work to improve the drinking water supply network in the area, by installing around 500m of new mains, which it says will improve reliability and safeguard supplies for many years to come.

The installation will be carried out using a technique known as pipe bursting, which will ensure disruption is kept to a minimum and reduces the length of time it will take to complete the work.

Work will commence on Monday, February 19 and last for approximately five weeks.

To allow this work to take place safely a road closure will be in place from Monday, February 19 to Friday, March 16 on Butt Lane from its junction with Mill Road. During this time a diversion route will be in place via Mill Road, High Road and vice versa.

During the work there may be times when water supplies to properties on Butt Lane are interrupted for a period of up to three hours. Residents will be given at least 48 hours’ notice when this is due to place. There will also be other water supply interruptions of less than 30 minutes, and residents will also be notified of these in advance.

Daren Still, project Manager for Essex & Suffolk Water, said: “This project is part of our multi-million pound investment programme into the water infrastructure in the region. This essential upgrade work will help to reduce interruptions to supply for our customers and make sure we have secure and reliable supplies of water in future.”

“I’d like to apologise in advance for any disruption caused and to thank communities and our customers for the co-operation while we carry out this vital work. We are writing to all residents who may be affected in advance, and will have dedicated support available should customers need to get in touch with us during this time.”

Essex & Suffolk Water will on average invest £45m on essential improvements each year from 2015 to 2020 - a total of £225m over the five years.

Further updates on the progress of the works will be available on the Essex & Suffolk Water website: www.eswater.co.uk and through Twitter @eswater_care.