As part of its largest investment in water and wastewater services in the North West, United Utilities plans to upgrade over 925 kilometers of water mains throughout the region.
Over the next five years, the company will allocate more than £380 million to replace existing water mains with new, more durable, and flexible pipes. In the first year alone, it will invest over £40 million to replace approximately 170 kilometers of mains—enough to cover the distance from Manchester to Blackpool and back.
The company will employ various techniques, including slip-lining, where new pipes are inserted into the old ones, to minimize disruption.
The new mains are anticipated to last over 100 years and are designed to endure high pressure and temperature fluctuations, helping to prevent bursts and reduce leaks. This will be crucial in ensuring the water supply for millions of customers in the region.
In addition to minimizing service interruptions, this project is vital for creating a resilient water network as the population in the North West is projected to increase.
Grant Batty, Water Services Director at United Utilities, stated: “This is a significant investment. By enhancing our water network, we can provide advantages to customers by lowering leakage rates and supply disruptions.
“Over the next five years, nearly 150,000 new homes are expected to be constructed in the North West, making responsible management of water resources more critical than ever.”
The program will prioritize areas that have previously experienced issues with water bursts and leaks.
Batty added: “We recognize that this type of work will inevitably cause some disruption, but we will strive to minimize it. For instance, we will utilize trenchless techniques whenever feasible to lessen disruption by tunneling beneath the road, thus avoiding the need to dig trenches across entire streets.
“We already have identified the areas we intend to target in the coming year and will work diligently to provide ample notice to customers, commuters, and stakeholders regarding ongoing work in their vicinity.”
In the next year, mains replacement will occur throughout the region, with around 50 kilometers in Cheshire, 30 kilometers in Lancashire, 15 kilometers in Manchester, and 60 kilometers in Cumbria. Specific mains in Merseyside will also be addressed, and work will continue on the Vyrnwy Aqueduct project, which will see approximately 15 kilometers of mains renewed in the upcoming year.
Source: United Utilities
