United Utilities is getting underway with a £16.5 million project to boost water supplies across the North West this month.
The water company’s scheme will connect four under-used reservoirs in Lancashire into the huge network of pipes which serves the rest of the region to make up to 38 million more litres of water available every day.
Project manager Mark Roby said the company was always looking for ways to boost the long-term resilience of water supplies for the millions of people who use them.
“Making the most of existing untapped resources like these reservoirs near Longridge is a good way to boost our available water without additional impact on the environment. The four reservoirs at Alston and Spade Mill have been collecting and storing water from the north Pennines for decades, but they have not been used for quite a few years because we haven’t needed them. With changes in water usage and climate change, it makes sense to be planning ahead,” he said.
The project involves building a new large 9.7km aqueduct from White Bull, near Longridge, to Broughton, north of Preston. From there the reservoir water will go to Franklaw Water Treatment Works where it will be treated before entering the huge network of pipes which connects communities from Cumbria to Crewe.
The water will flow entirely by gravity following natural contours wherever possible. Most of the work will take place in fields, but the pipeline will need to cross several roads, including the M6.
“We’ll be doing absolutely everything we can to make sure we complete the work as quickly as possible because we know what a pain these road closures and diversions will be for local people. That means working weekends and making the most of the additional day light through the summer months. We will make sure we keep people up-to-date with our progress with people as we go along,” said Mark.
United Utilities’ huge network of interconnected pipes is one of the largest single water networks in the UK.
For updates and information about the project visit www.unitedutilities.com/Alston-Spade-Mill
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