Johnson Street Storm Overflow

About This Project

Johnson Street Storm Overflow Screening Project (Gateshead, 2022)

Commissioned by Northumbrian Water, the Johnson Street Storm Overflow Screening Project in Gateshead aimed to improve water quality in the River Tyne by reducing unscreened storm discharges from a 22,500-population catchment. Delivered by the Esh-Stantec JV, with shaft and tunnelling works by Active Tunnelling, the project involved constructing a 10.5m diameter, 8m deep shaft over the live Tyneside Interceptor Sewer, installing two high-capacity mechanical self-cleansing screens, and constructing 1800mm diameter overflow sewers using tunnelling techniques.

To maintain flow during works, a temporary pumping station was installed, allowing live sewer operations to continue with minimal disruption. The design met Environment Agency requirements to screen flows up to 6mm during a 1-in-5-year storm and repurposed the existing overflow as a secondary relief point. Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the project was completed in January 2022, ahead of the March regulatory deadline, and came in under budget at £6.95 million.