Welsh Water has begun a £5 million mains replacement programme across parts of rural Herefordshire, replacing 13.8 kilometres of ageing cast iron water mains in the villages of Yarpole, Moreton Eye, Eye, and Luston. Work is expected to complete in 2027.
The programme, announced by Welsh Water (Dwr Cymru) on 12 April 2026, forms part of the company's broader five-year capital investment programme approved under Ofwat's PR24 price review. The affected area lies in the Leominster district of north Herefordshire, where water mains date predominantly from the 1930s and 1940s.
Why these mains are being replaced
The cast iron pipes being replaced are at the end of their serviceable life. Cast iron mains of this age are prone to burst failures during cold weather, develop internal corrosion that can affect water taste and colour, and contribute to leakage rates that Welsh Water is committed to reducing under its regulatory obligations.
The affected villages are relatively remote, served by a distribution network that branches off the main Leominster trunk main. The topography of the area — a mix of farmland, orchard, and riparian habitat — means the pipe replacement requires careful planning to minimise environmental disruption.
The contractor and timeline
M Group Services has been appointed as principal contractor for the work. M Group is one of the UK's largest utility infrastructure contractors and holds a long-term framework agreement with Welsh Water for capital mains replacement work.
Work began in the second week of April 2026 and is scheduled to progress village-by-village, with the sequence Yarpole first, then Moreton Eye, Eye, and Luston. Residents in each village can expect disruption to supply during connection changeover periods — Welsh Water has said it will give a minimum of 48 hours' notice before any planned interruption.
Welsh Water's non-profit structure
Welsh Water is one of the UK's most distinctive water companies in that it operates as a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee. Any financial surplus is retained within the business for investment, rather than being distributed to shareholders. This structure means the capital being spent on Herefordshire's water mains comes directly from customer bills and Welsh Water's own borrowing capacity, with no dividend extraction.
For customers in Yarpole, Moreton, Eye, and Luston, the new MDPE (medium-density polyethylene) pipes will bring improved pressure, reduced burst risk, and better long-term water quality. If you are in this area and have concerns about your current supply, enter your postcode below.
Source: Welsh Water project announcement April 2026; M Group Services; Ofwat PR24 final determination.