Ofwat has published its official consent for United Utilities to commence the procurement of the Haweswater Aqueduct Resilience Programme as a designated Direct Procurement for Customers (DPC) Delivered Project.

At PR19 United Utilities informed the water sector that the infrastructure project was suitable to be designated as a "DPC Delivered Project" - the designation was subsequently made on 20 December 2021.

Water companies are only allowed to commence the procurement of a DPC Delivered Project with the consent of Ofwat - the intended result of which is the award of one or more contracts to a Competitively Appointed Provider (CAP).

In January Ofwat formally announced that it had designated the Haweswater Aqueduct Resilience Programme as a Direct Procurement for Customers (DPC) Delivered Project.

The consent document says that Ofwat is of the opinion that the project delivered following a DPC Procurement Process can “reasonably be expected to deliver value for money for customers.”

Originally constructed in the 1930s-1950s, sections of the current asset are now approaching the end of their asset life and pose a significant risk to water quality and loss of supply to customers in Cumbria, Lancashire, and Greater Manchester.

At PR19, United Utilities requested funding for the Haweswater Aqueduct Resilience Programme, which will comprise the replacement of six tunnel sections of the existing Haweswater Aqueduct, connections to existing multiline siphons between the tunnel sections and associated facilities. It also includes the commissioning and ongoing maintenance of the works for a period of approximately 25 years after completion.

United Utilities expects to begin construction on the Haweswater Aqueduct Resilience Programme in 2023.