United Utilities is progressing work on two muti-million pound AMP8 projects to reduce storm overflows and improve river water quality.
The company is holding a public exhibition today for residents in Knutsford to learn more about the company’s plans for a multi million pound project to improve water quality in the area.
The utility is investing £5 million to reduce the number of times that the storm overflow at Bexton Road operates during heavy rain, which will improve water quality in the nearby Serpentine Water.
The plans include setting up a new, larger underground storm tank, kiosk and chamber. Teams are expected to be on site from July2025 with the project completed by September 2026.
The public exhibition will take place later today from 4pm to 7pm at Knutsford Academy.
A separate £1.5 million investment in a new wastewater treatment facility in Cark is helping improve water quality in River Eea.
The site behind the train station was previously a pumping station used to pump wastewater to the treatment works at Grange over Sands. It is now a self-contained wastewater treatment works which is treating wastewater from homes and businesses whilst also significantly reducing storm overflow operations.
The installation of the new facility is the latest phase in an ongoing project to develop a permanent solution for the area. Work has also been carried out to reline parts of the network to help prevent water ingress into the network.
Andrew Kendall who heads up wastewater services for United Utilities in Cumbria explained:
“This has been a challenging project, we’re delighted to see it operational and delivering a significant reduction in the number of times that storm overflow operates.
“As well as helping to reduce spills in Cark, this work has also freed up capacity at our treatment works in Grange-over-Sands creating a wider benefit to the area.”
Work is ongoing to develop a permanent solution that will address the ongoing issue of groundwater infiltrating into the network and putting extra pressure on the network in times of heavy rainfall.
Andrew Kendall added:
“Investigations and groundwater surveys are continuing. As well as taking Cartmel’s geology into account, we are also looking at how factors such as the regular influx of tourists into the town are managed.
“The permanent solution we deliver will make the area more resilient to future challenges.”
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