Work on a £4.5 million scheme for United Utilities which has been under way since last year to improve Allonby’s wastewater treatment works is nearing completion.

The scheme has involved building a major underground storage tank at the treatment plant and 200m of new sewer along the beach.

The treatment plant itself is also being upgraded to treat the town’s wastewater to even higher standards.  Engineers are installing special disinfection units to dose the water with ultra-violet light as part of the scheme.

The work is all part of a drive to help clean up water quality at the beach so that Allonby can achieve better bathing water results.

Steve Dooley, project manager for United Utilities, explained how the scheme would work when it is completed:

“Allonby is no stranger to heavy rain and this can seriously affect bathing water quality. The rain washes bacteria into the sea from all sorts of sources, including farm land, private drains and the town’s sewer system. We’re playing our part to reduce this problem.”

“The work we are doing will allow us to capture and treat more of the dirty water that would otherwise overflow from the sewer system.”

The water company is a partner of Love My Beach, a campaign which brings together various groups, including the Environment Agency, National Farmers Union, Marine Conservation Society, British Destinations, Keep Britain Tidy and local authorities to keep the North West’s bathing waters clean.

The Allonby wastewater scheme is expected to be finished and in operation by February 2016.