New £5m scheme to improve water quality in the River Mersey

A £5 million project to install a new underground stormwater tank in Birkenhead is now underway.

Once complete, the storage tank at Mayfield Drive will be able to store 504,000 litres of stormwater - equivalent to just over 3,000 bath tubs - providing essential extra capacity during periods of heavy rainfall.

The scheme will reduce the number of times storm overflows operate and play a key role in improving water quality in the River Mersey. On completion, the land surrounding the tank will also benefit from a new community orchard for residents to enjoy.

Steve Kenyon, County Business Lead for Wastewater Services in Merseyside, said: “Over the last few months, we’ve been working closely with local residents and key partners to ensure we carry out our work quickly and sympathetically at Mayfield Drive.

"The underground tank will act as a huge holding area for the extra stormwater that enters the sewer network in periods of heavy rainfall, helping to improve water quality in the River Mersey and deliver benefits for the wider environment.”

The tank will be installed on council owned land off Mayfield Drive close to the junction of Ferry Road, Birkenhead. Construction traffic will primarily use Bankfields Drive to travel to, and from site to minimise disruption for residents. The work is due to complete in approximately twelve months.

Standard working hours will remain 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday throughout the project. Any weekend working will be communicated in advance.

This scheme forms part of United Utilities’ wider environmental investment programme. The company is making major progress on the largest upgrade of water and wastewater infrastructure in the North West in a century, investing more than £13.5 billion to protect and enhance over 500km of rivers, lakes and bathing waters, while safeguarding drinking water supplies for millions of customers.