£5.5m investment in Kirkham will reduce storm overflows and improve water quality in the River Ribble

Overview

The project is part of a wider £94.5 million investment which will see 12 projects delivered across Fylde and Wyre during the next five years.

Challenge

Wastewater from Kirkham currently travels through the sewer network to the pumping station at Freckleton before going on to the Wastewater Treatment Works at Clifton Marsh, Preston. Creating this extra capacity will prevent flows from reaching the pumping station and the wastewater treatment works at the same time which will means the system is less likely to become overwhelmed during periods of heavy rainfall.

Solution

The 300-metre-long storage tunnel will be constructed more than four metres below ground. The tunnel will hold the equivalent of around 26,000 bathtubs of water and will act as a holding area for the extra water that enters the sewer network.

Outcome

The new storage tunnel will give Kirkham’s wastewater network additional storage capacity and will help to improve water quality in Wrongway Brook, a tributary of the River Ribble.

This project is being delivered as part of our Big North West Upgrade to make the northwest stronger, greener and healthier.