United Utilities’ problems with cryptosporidium in its water network are continuing – on Friday the company installed the first of several ultra violet (UV) rigs in parts of Lancashire, capable of killing the last remaining traces of the cryptosporidium bug.
The UV technology is being used in strategic locations across the network following a detailed analysis of how the cryptosporidium bug is working its way through the system.
Installing the rigs is one of United Utilities biggest ever engineering projects, with teams expected to complete something which would typically take months, in days. Rigs and equipment have been sourced from across the UK and Europe.
The water company hopes the rigs, alongside a flushing of the network and a storage reservoir cleaning programme, will enable it to end the boil water notice. However, the notice will only be lifted following consultation with other multi-agency partners across Lancashire. In the meantime, the precautionary advice to boil water remains in place.
Customer services director Gary Dixon said the use of these UV rigs would help speed up the process of destroying the last traces of cryptosporidium in the water.
“We’ve been using specialist analysis called network modelling, to identify how the bug has been moving through the system. This has allowed us to set up these rigs in targeted locations."
The UV rigs are being installed at Warbreck, Weeton, Westby, White Bull, Heighton and Haughton service reservoirs – the sstorage chambers which hold the water before it is piped to local homes and businesses.
United Utilities has pledged to compensate all households affected by the boil water notice – costs to the firm could potentially run to millions of pounds. Businesses who believe they have suffered loss of earnings due to the notice are being advised to write to the company with details.
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