The water company is starting a major upgrade at its Altcar Lane works, with the project expected to take 10 months to complete. The work will be contained within the current site.
Four new screens - which act like a sieve on wastewater or sewage entering the plant - will be installed, alongside a new pumping station and associated works. The work will mean treated wastewater leaving the works and going into the Alt will be of a better quality, meeting strict European standards on levels of ammonia.
The River Alt begins in Huyton and runs through Formby before flowing into the Irish Sea at Hightown.
United Utilities project manager Mark Graham said:
"In the last 15 years the quality of the water in the River Alt has improved remarkably and it is now a popular fishing spot, particularly for Flounder.
"This work will further improve the water in the Alt, while also ensuring the works are equipped to meet anticipated future increases in demand from the local area."
With the UK government demanding a 50% reduction in storm overflow spills by 2029, the era of reactive management is over. Speaking in the House of Commons on 21 July 2025, then environment secretary Steve Reed said, “This Government will cut water companies’ sewage pollution in half by the end of the decade.”
ERG, the leading supplier of odour control systems and industrial gas cleaning & thermal systems, has been awarded the coveted King’s Award for Enterprise.
Welsh Water’s new artificial intelligence-driven tool, ORAI, has been shortlisted for three categories at the prestigious British Data Awards 2026 – underscoring the company’s commitment to using cutting-edge technology to deliver better outcome for customers.
Barhale has completed work on two separate Rapid Action Taskforce Spills projects it is carrying out for Severn Trent.
Hear how Scottish Water has completed its £235 million Ayrshire Glasgow Resilience Project - customers across Greater Glasgow, Ayrshire and East Renfrewshire will now benefit from a more secure and resilient water supply.
Hear how United Utilities is accelerating its investment to reduce spills from storm overflows across the Northwest.
Find out more about the remarkable career opportunities on offer at WSP - scroll down to watch the inspirational video.