Villagers near Appleby in Cumbria could soon have access to mains sewerage for the first time under plans being unveiled by United Utilities.
The Cumbrian water company wants to extend its sewer network to Colby, Crosby Ravensworth and Maulds Meaburn at a cost of approximately £6 million. The work would give around 190 properties to chance to come off private septic tanks, which need regular maintenance in order to prevent pollution to nearby water courses and ground water.
More than 100 people attended public exhibitions on the plans recently when details of the scheme were unveiled by project engineers.
United Utilities project manager Duncan Fone said people broadly welcomed the prospect of mains sewerage and were given information packs about how they could connect their properties to the new network.
"Evidence suggests that poorly performing private septic tanks are a source of pollution in nearby water courses so these projects are absolutely vital for the environment and for general public health," he said.
"They are big schemes, which we hope to have substantially complete by the end of March 2010. However the long term benefits for local people and the countryside will be immense."
United Utilities is carrying out a number of major rural sewerage schemes schemes across Cumbria as part of a five year £40 million programme to improve the environment. A similar scheme is already under way in Cliburn and Great Strickland to give about 155 properties the opportunity to move off their septic tanks.
