Water company taps into Sunderland illuminations

The company is backing the month-long event and are sponsoring one of the light installations.

In keeping with the water company’s theme they have chosen to sponsor the famous floating tap exhibit, which has been brought back for this year’s event.

The floating tap is a nostalgic return to the illuminations of old and takes pride of place within the city’s Roker Park.

It’s thought that the tap will be seen by over 150,000 visitors.

The event coincides with the final stages of a year long £8.3million sewer upgrade project by for the Roker, Seaburn, Cleadon and St Peter’s areas of Sunderland.

The work, which is set to finish in November, will improve and increase sewer capacity and reduce the risk of flooding to homes and businesses.

Project Manager for the scheme, Dave Groak said: “We are delighted to support the Sunderland Illuminations, they are an important part of the fabric here in Sunderland and we are proud to be involved with the festival.

“Out of all of the fantastic exhibits the tap was the perfect choice for us and the timing of it couldn’t be better as we come to the end of our sewer project in the area."

Coun John Kelly, Sunderland City Council’s Portfolio Holder for Health, Wellness and Culture, said: “The tap was for many years a popular feature of the illuminations. Now, I’m pleased to say, with a lot of work behind the scenes, and thanks to the sponsors and everyone involved with the illuminations, we’ve been able to turn a tap on again.

“We’ve had many, many thousands of visitors to the Illuminations so far this year and the Festival of Light is open every evening of the half-term for families to enjoy."

The Festival of Light will run until November 5, from 5pm to 10pm.