A £21 million programme to give Wirral's largest water pipes a deep clean is due to restart this week.

Water company United Utilities launched the programme in September last year to clean or upgrade 'trunk mains' on the Wirral Peninsula. The large pipes act as the 'motorways of the local water network' - transporting millions of litres of water a day throughout the area.

Engineers are working on approximately 40 kilometres of pipes in Wallasey, Ellesmere Port and Birkenhead to clean and remove harmless sediment which has built up in the pipes over the years. Where the old metal pipes are in a poor condition, they will be replaced with modern new plastic equivalents.

The latest section of work is expected to be ongoing until mid February.

Christian Ewen, a spokesman for United Utilities, said:

"This work is essential for water quality. Over time pipes can fur up on the inside and deposits of iron and manganese get into the water. Although harmless it can cause some discolouration and we are keen to tackle it.
 
"Cleaning or replacing the pipes will ensure Wirral households can continue to enjoy high-quality drinking water for many years to come. It's a big undertaking, which is why we are carrying out the work in several phases. "

 More information on the scheme is available at www.unitedutilities.com/wirralcleaning