United Utilities has announced details of its spending plans for the financial year 2017-18 which will see hundreds of millions of pounds invested in vital engineering schemes, including the start of work on a new £300 million pipeline to transfer water from Thirlmere reservoir to West Cumbria.

In Lancashire work is continuing in Blackpool on schemes at Anchorsholme Park and Lennox Gate at a cost of more than £100 million. This will reduce sewer spills on the Fylde Coast, building on recent improvements to local bathing waters.  By the end of the year work is also due to start on a multi-million pound upgrade to the wastewater treatment plants at Blackburn and Darwen, to help improve water quality in the River Ribble.

Other schemes planned include:

• a £70 million upgrade at Morecambe wastewater treatment works to help improve the environment for shellfish and bathing waters in Morecambe Bay.
• continuation of a £200 million modernisation programme at Davyhulme wastewater treatment works in Trafford, to improve the level of treatment and allow the works to keep pace with the increasing population of Manchester.
• an £80 million project in Oldham to improve water quality in the River Irk will continue with the construction of a new sewer pipeline and new processes at Oldham wastewater treatment works.
• a £20 million upgrade at Failsworth wastewater treatment works
• a £22 million project to build additional storm water storage at Snipe Clough and other locations in the Oldham area, reducing pollution into the River Medlock.
• a £12 million upgrade of Kendal wastewater treatment works which will help improve water quality in the River Kent
• a £22 million project to reduce pollution of local watercourses during heavy rain
• continuation in Carlisle of work on a £13 million project to clean key water mains across the city
• a series of improvement projects at a number of wastewater treatment plants in Cheshire, including a £13 million scheme at Winsford, £20 million at Crewe and £45 million at Ellesmere Port. These will all help to improve the quality of water returned to local rivers, bringing benefits for wildlife and the local community.

The schemes form part of United Utilities’s £3.5 billion AMP6 2015-20 investment programme.

The investment will be part funded through customers’ water bills which, on average, are set to rise from April 1 to around £419 per household, up £8 on last year.  The water company said the increase of 2 per cent is due to inflation and is in line with other regions of the UK.