Employee Trust Share Purchase

Northumbrian Water Group PLC
03 February 2005


                          Northumbrian Water Group plc

                                (the "Company")


The Company has today been advised of the purchase of a total of 26,296 Ordinary
10p shares, at a price of 183p, by the Northumbrian Water Share Scheme Trustees
Limited on 3 February 2005.


Following this purchase, the Trust has a holding of 681,296 Ordinary 10p shares,
representing 0.13% of the Company's issued share capital.


The Trust holds these shares in order to satisfy awards made under the Company's
LTIP, and so the executive directors of the Company are potential beneficiaries
of some of these shares.


Name of contact and telephone number for queries

Jayne Powell, Assistant Company Secretary
Tel: [phone]




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