Work is due to start later this year on a series of upgrades to the two wastewater treatment works in an effort to improve the water quality of the River Douglas by 2030.
The £230m United Utilities project will see new technology installed at the Wigan and Skelmersdale wastewater treatment facilities to further reduce levels of phosphorus, ammonia, and iron in wastewater prior to it going into the River Douglas.
In Wigan, this will include installing the UK’s largest membrane bioreactor, according to United Utilities. Membrane bioreactors provide a sort of ultra filter that uses bacteria and protozoa used to consume the unsavoury aspects of raw wastewater and then a specailised membrane to ensure those bacteria and protozoa stay within the bioreactor and only clean water comes out.
The project will also increase the capacity of both treatment plants, including the refurbishment of existing storm tanks. This should reduce the number of storm overflows that occur during periods of heavy rainfall.
“This investment is vital for delivering improvements to water quality in the River Douglas,” said Simon Holding, wastewater business lead for United Utilities in Lancashire.
“It will help us to futureproof our wastewater services in the area as we see new housing developments and the local population continuing to grow,” he continued.
“By upgrading our treatment works at Wigan and Skelmersdale with innovative technology, we can treat wastewater to much higher standards and reduce the number of times storm overflows operate – which is something our customers have told us they want to see.”
The commitment to Wigan is in addition to the £50m announced last year to improve the storage capacity of the borough’s sewers and limit storm overflows.
Both works in Wigan and Skelmersdale are part of United Utilities’ promise to invest more than £13bn before 2030 to improve the water quality of 500-kilometres rivers, lakes, and bathing waters across the North. Also part of this scheme is the £350m upgrade to Davyhulme wastewater treatment works.