Wirral's water mains to get a deep clean

01 September 2010

Wirral's largest water pipes are to get a deep clean, in a major £21 million programme.
 
The pipes, known as 'trunk mains', act as the motorways of the local water network, transporting millions of litres of water a day throughout the Wirral Peninsula. The scheme by water firm United Utilities, will see around 40 kilometres of pipes in Wallasey, Ellesmere Port and Birkenhead cleaned to remove harmless sediment that has built up over the years.
 
The network of underground pipes keeps water on tap for 190,000 Wirral households. The scheme will be delivered in several phases, and is expected to take up to five years. Preparatory work gets underway on Monday 6 September.
 
A variety of techniques will be used to clean the pipes including high pressure jets and industrial sponges, which will be pushed through the pipes to remove deposits. Where the pipes are in poor condition, new plastic pipes will be inserted within the original cast iron shells, to provide a secure new lining.
 
United Utilities project manager Mike Addison said: "This work is essential for water quality. Over time, pipes can fur up on the inside and deposits of iron and manganese get into the water. Although harmless, it can cause some discolouration and we are keen to tackle it.
 
"Giving the pipes a thorough clean will ensure Wirral households can continue to enjoy high quality drinking water for many years to come. It's a big undertaking, which is why we will be carrying out the work in several phases.
 
"We are aiming to deliver the project with a minimal amount of disruption. Thankfully, full road closures should be extremely rare during the scheme's lifetime. We will be keeping local residents, businesses and motorists fully informed, as the scheme progresses."
 
On September 6, preparatory work will commence on Barnston Road. Here, a new valve will be installed in a water main outside Crosshill Reservoir. The work, which will take approximately one week, will require temporary two-way traffic lights on the northbound lane between Barnsdale Avenue and Holmewood Drive.

Additional preparatory work will be carried out across Wirral in forthcoming months, with the first phase of cleaning beginning along a pipeline in Ellesmere Port in October 2010.
 
Customers requiring more information can call United Utilities on 0845 746 2200, quoting project number 80023407.