United Utilities is set to start work on a £10 million investment project to create two new underground stormwater tanks in land next to Southlands High School, Chorley to improve water quality in the River Yarrow.
The two-year project is set to get underway in August and will see two new underground storage tanks created in the grassland area to the south of the school. Tank one will be 2000m3, 11.50m deep and 20m diameter, while tank two will be slightly smaller at 1662m3, 10.5m deep and 20m diameter.
Each tank will be connected to each other by an underground shaft - together they will have a combined capacity of more than 3.6 million litres of water.
The additional storage will reduce storm overflows into the River Yarrow which flows into the River Ribble.
Simon Holding, County Business Lead for Wastewater Services in Lancashire explained:
“These tanks act as huge holding areas for the extra rainwater that enters the sewer network during times of heavy rainfall.
“Holding it back means it isn’t all hitting the wastewater treatment works at the same time and the system is less likely to be overwhelmed.
“We know people living in the area might have questions about the works, so we encourage them to come along to a drop-in session to meet the team and find out more.”
Across Lancashire, United Utilities is continuing to deliver a range of projects from infrastructure improvements to riverside tree planting schemes, which are enhancing water quality in the River Ribble and its tributaries.
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