03 September 2009
Householders in St Helens will soon be turning their taps on to even better water supplies thanks to United Utilities.
This week the company is undertaking a two-week project to replace an old cast-iron pipe on Elton Head Road at the junction of Sutton Heath Road with a modern plastic one.
When the work is completed it will help prevent low water pressure and water discolouration - as well as reducing the risk of leakage.
"Some of our old water mains like the pipe here at Elton Head Road date back more than 100 years," said United Utilities' project engineer Brian McBurney.
"It has done a great job all these years but is now not up to modern standards and it is time to replace it."
To keep disruption to a minimum, engineers will use the latest pipe-laying technique - known as slip-lining - in which the new plastic pipe is inserted into the old pipe.
"Slip-lining is the equivalent of keyhole surgery for water mains," explained Brian.
"We only need to dig small access holes instead of open trenches and the new plastic pipe can be fed through the old one. It's quicker and causes less inconvenience."
It will be necessary however for engineers to put a lane restriction in place on either side of the carriageway whilst this essential work is ongoing.
In addition to the above works the footpath which runs from Elton Head Road through to Maryleborne Road will be inaccessible for the two weeks due to the renewal of a pipe that runs vertically across the main carriageway and connects in Maryleborne Road.
All excavations will be made secure using barriers.
A pedestrian access route past the works will be maintained at all times and arrangements will be made to provide as much access as possible to any entrances and exits that fall within the working area.
When this work is completed all affected roads and footpaths will be returned to their previous condition as quickly as possible.
"We always aim to cause as little disruption as possible and we need to remember that when the work is complete it will be of great benefit to our customers across St Helens," said Brian.
"This is the type of work that our customers' bills help to fund and it will be well worth it when it is finished."
The work forms part of United Utilities' £2.9 billion water quality and environmental improvement programme for 2005-2010.
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