United Utilities is starting work on an £80 million upgrade of Oldham’s sewage treatment system - its biggest upgrade since the Industrial Revolution.

Earth-moving work has just begun at Oldham wastewater treatment works on the multi million environmental improvement project which will breathe new life back into the River Irk in the town.

The scheme involves decommissioning part of the sewage works at Royton and upgrading the Oldham treatment works at Chadderton. A new sewer pipeline is also proposed between the two treatment works.

Chris Tighe, United Utilities project coordinator responsible for the scheme, explained why the work is needed:

“New European rules will mean we have to treat the wastewater to a much higher standard, which both existing plants are too old and too small to meet at present.

“The plan is to transfer most of the sewer flows from Royton to Chadderton and upgrade the treatment processes so that the water we discharge into the River Irk is even cleaner.”

A number of exhibitions have already taken place to inform residents about the plans and more will be held later this year when the final plans for the pipeline route have been confirmed.

The project will take until the end of 2017 to complete.