Northumbrian Water has pushed back the start date for long-promised work to cut sewage pollution in the Ouseburn, announcing that it will not now begin until autumn 2026, a year later than previously committed.

The update, posted on the website of The Ouse Burn Way, an organisation which includes the Reece Foundation, Newcastle City Council, Northumbria Water, Environment Agency and Tyne Rivers Trust as partners, has prompted renewed frustration among local residents and campaigners. Northumbrian Water had originally pledged to begin the project in 2025. The river, which flows through Jesmond Dene, has suffered persistent pollution for more than a decade, with hundreds of sewage incidents each year affecting both wildlife and local residents.

In 2022 alone, the river experienced 228 sewage-pollution incidents, resulting in more than 910 million litres of contaminated water entering the river. Despite a pledged  £14 million investment by 2030 to tackle the causes of pollution, including upgrading ageing sewer systems and reducing stormwater discharges, local representatives have expressed frustration at continued delays. 

Why is the pollution happening?

According to Professor David Werner, a professor of environmental systems modelling whose research on the Ouseburn was funded by the Reece Foundation, the river’s chronic pollution stems from two main sources: discharges from Newcastle’s ageing combined sewer system and contaminated runoff entering surface-water drains.

Werner told JesmondLocal: “During heavy rain, combined sewers release excess flow directly into the river, a major impact from these discharges is plastic litter, such as wet wipes and sanitary products, which affects the natural beauty and amenity of Jesmond Dene.”

He added that surface-water drains, designed to carry only rainfall, often become polluted due to “improper waste disposal into street gullies or misconnected household appliances,” where sinks or washing machines are mistakenly plumbed into the wrong drainage system.

Concerns over delays and regulations

Newcastle City Councillor Peter Allen, who represents North Jesmond and is leading the Liberal Democrat campaign for firmer Ouseburn clean-up commitments, says that while delays in civil-engineering projects are not unusual, the consequences for residents and local wildlife are significant.

“The nature of civil engineering works is that there are quite often delays,” he said. “We will continue talking with Northumbrian Water and hopefully get spades in the ground as soon as possible so these problems get alleviated.”

Allen warned that local people will face higher bills despite decades of insufficient regulation of the water industry.

Consumers are going to foot the bill as there is going to be a 20% rise in water bills for local people “Ofwat has allowed water companies, not just Northumbrian Water but across the country, to take money out of the system rather than reinvesting it. If regulation had been stronger, we might not be in this situation now,” said Allen.

Rebecca Shaw, a local resident said: “So we pay more while the water by the Ouseburn is still not great. Makes you wonder where the money is actually going.”

Public health and environmental impact

The pollution has direct implications for public health. During and after heavy rainfall, sewage mixes with stormwater and enters the Ouseburn untreated. “After heavy rain, don’t let your kids or dogs paddle in the water. There is a risk of bacterial infection,” warned Allen.

He said a healthy river would not only support wildlife but would make the Dene a more attractive and safer space for residents and visitors.

“Jesmond Dene is effectively created by the river,” Allen noted. “For families wanting to enjoy Newcastle’s green lungs, walking down the Ouseburn and smelling sewage is not exactly encouraging.”

Certain plant species thrive on the nutrients introduced by sewage, altering the river ecosystem and making it harder for native wildlife to survive.

Who is working on the solution?

Partners in The Ouse Burn Way meet regularly to coordinate action. The group aims to produce a unified long-term plan for improving water quality and reducing sewage spills.

“Northumbrian Water recognises the problem, the Environment Agency recognises the problem, and even the council recognises that something needs to be done,” Allen said. “There’s a recognition by all parties to get something done, and it’s about keeping that pressure up to get that something done as quickly as possible.”

Allen also wants to see more natural flood-management solutions, such as reed beds and water-retention areas designed to slow stormwater before it reaches the sewer network.

“When you’ve got stormwater, what you want to do is hold the water back as long as possible before it goes into the river system,” he said. “If the sewers are not running over capacity, the system works.”

How residents can help

Professor Werner emphasised that local residents can also reduce everyday pollution risks. “Waste should never be disposed of into street gullies, as surface water drainage can flow directly into the Ouseburn without treatment,” he said. Homeowners can help by installing rainwater butts, using permeable paving, or creating soakaways to reduce stormwater entering the system.

He stressed that one of the most significant contributors to blockages and pollution is the flushing of wet wipes. “Wet wipes should never be flushed down the toilet, as they cause blockages in the sewer system and end up in the river. By managing waste responsibly and making sustainable choices, everyone can help create a cleaner, healthier environment for both wildlife and the local community,” Werner said.

What happens next

Despite widespread recognition of the need for urgent improvements, major construction work is still more than a year away. Northumbrian Water says it remains committed to delivering the promised investment and reducing pollution in the river, though residents will have to wait until at least 2026 for meaningful changes.

Local campaigners are pushing for regular public water-quality testing in Jesmond Dene, using the same standards applied to designated bathing waters. Allen believes public reporting would both inform residents and increase pressure for faster improvements.

“We would like to see water quality measured and publicised, with a notice board here in Jesmond Dene showing the results,” he said. “That would help people make informed decisions.

“People across the city are concerned about pollution. They want to come to places like Jesmond Dene and know it’s a safe, clean environment they can enjoy.”