A project to upgrade rural wastewater treatment works in Cumbria so they can treat more wastewater during times of heavy rainfall is making rapid progress, said United Utilities.
The firm is upgrading 29 works across its region – with 21 in Cumbria. It said the upgrades were expected to reduce the number of times that storm overflows operate by more than 1,200 a year.
United Utilities said it was committed to reduce spills by at least 50% by 2030. Work has already been completed at 11 sites in Cumbria and is well underway at the others, it added.
Work has already been completed at Plumbland, Casterton, Gilcrux, Kirkbampton, Brough, Askham, Bootle, Embleton, Hawkshead, Eaglesfield and Great Broughton.
Andrew Kendall, wastewater lead in Cumbria, said: “These new treatment units operate alongside the existing treatment methods, they are quick to produce and install and will play an important role in reducing the number of times that storm overflows operate in periods of heavy rainfall
“By treating more, and doing it more quickly, we can ease pressure on these rural wastewater treatment sites and in turn reduce the risk of spills.”
The treatment units are being manufactured at Bury-based Water Engineering Services at the rate of one every week. Once made, they are delivered to site fully assembled and can be ready for action within a few weeks.
Mr Kendall added: “This fast-track project enable us to install an effective solution in a matter of weeks compared to the 18 months-plus it can take to deliver larger scale infrastructure.
“It is an important first step as we launch the biggest overhaul of the region’s sewer network in a century. People are going to see much more of this over the next 25 years as we deliver a wide range of solutions.
“Across the region, we are making fundamental changes to the way our sewer system has been designed and change on this scale cannot happen overnight.”
The company is under fire for allowing spills to occur and the most high profile is into Windermere. The Save Windermere campaign claims that United Utilities has illegally spilled sewage into Windermere, Elterwater, Grasmere and Coniston for over 500 days since 2018.
The company said it had also completed a project which has created an additional 2.6 million litres of storm water storage at its Ambleside and Windermere wastewater treatment works to help improve water quality in Windermere.
