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Reservoir image

Providing great water for the North West

As the region’s population grows and we experience the impacts of climate change, it is vitally important we ensure there is enough water to meet the needs of the North West, whilst protecting the environment. To ensure that everyone has the water they need, now and into the future, we need to work together to reduce the amount of water we use as well as developing new water sources that do not harm the environment.

Potential new water supply from the River Bollin

Following an extensive review, and in consultation with the Environment Agency, we are proposing to develop a new source of drinking water from the River Bollin. This will provide an additional water supply into the local area and is part of our plans to improve water resilience across the region. This would involve constructing an abstraction point to take water out of the River Bollin, new pipelines to transfer the water, a new water treatment works and a new storage reservoir, to be operational in 2033.

We are proposing to locate the treatment works somewhere within the shaded area in the map below, subject to ongoing surveys and assessments. At this very early stage of the planning process, we are talking to local landowners about this proposal and possible locations for the new water treatment works and storage reservoir, ahead of submitting a full planning application in 2027. There will be opportunity for the wider community to review and comment on our proposals at public events as our design progresses.

To give some idea of size, the new treatment facility would cover around 1% of the shaded area below, or 5-7 hectares.

VIEW THE MAP HERE

We are currently carrying out assessments, gathering data and talking to interested parties to assess the environmental impact the scheme would have on the surrounding area, ahead of submitting an Environmental Impact Assessment scoping document to the local authority, Trafford Council. This comprehensive document will cover geology and soils, traffic and transport, biodiversity, materials and waste, public access and recreation, communities and health, air quality, noise and vibration, and carbon and climate change. It will recommend what further studies are required to quantify any potential impacts resulting from construction and operation of the proposed scheme, so they can either be designed out or mitigated. Trafford Council will consult relevant bodies and provide a response on the scope of information needed for the Environmental Impact Assessment which will be submitted with the detailed planning application.

Once we have submitted the scoping document to Trafford Council, there are several steps ahead of us before we are ready to submit a planning application in 2027. These are set out below.

Summer 2025

Environmental Impact Assessment scoping document submitted to Trafford Council.

Autumn 2025

Environmental Impact Assessment scoping decision received from Trafford Council..

2025 - 2026

Engagement with stakeholders and the community.

Summer 2027

Planning application and continued stakeholder engagement.

2029

Subject to approval, construction to begin in 2029.

2033

Scheme operational, construction complete.

Continuous engagement with stakeholders, landowners and the community to ensure feedback is embedded in what we do

Frequently asked questions

  • The scheme would develop an additional water source and increase the resilience and reliability of supply of water to customers.

  • Our water resources need to be resilient for the future because:

    • Our population is growing
    • Our economy is growing
    • Our climate is changing
    • We need to increase our resilience against droughts

    We are working alongside other water companies to tackle water supply challenges proactively. Our goal is to develop sustainable solutions now that will benefit everyone and reduce the need for restrictions on water supplies in the future.

  • Water resource management plans

    The Water Act 2003 requires that all water companies in England and Wales prepare and maintain Water Resource Management Plans (WRMPs), which are our roadmaps for ensuring a reliable water supply for the future and must be revised every 5 years. They set out how we will work with other water companies to ensure enough water is available to everyone. Following government approval, United Utilities published its latest WRMP in December 2024.

  • ​We looked at a range of options, but we chose the River Bollin because following assessments made by United Utilities and the Environment Agency, it is the best option when we consider things like:

    • Cost and benefit to our customers
    • Engineering risks
    • Environmental impacts
    • How they would impact our local communities

  • If planning permission is granted and all the forthcoming site investigations and assessments prove successful, then the scheme proposes a new abstraction point to take water from the River Bollin before the river flows into the downstream Manchester Ship Canal and River Mersey.

    The scheme would require construction of an abstraction point, water treatment works and pipelines, the exact locations of which will be confirmed through further investigations and stakeholder engagement including with landowners, the environment agency and local communities.

    Visit the link below to access the scheme’s scoping boundary. We are looking at locations in this area, and we’ve contacted the relevant stakeholders to discuss what this means for them.

    VIEW THE MAP HERE

  • When looking for the best place to put an abstraction point, we consider many important factors. These include:

    • Environmental impact
    • Land availability
    • Flood risks
    • Access for construction and maintenance
    • River characteristics
    • Long-term river changes

    This holistic approach ensures we're making an informed decision that balances our community's water needs with protection of the environment.

    We'll continue to refine our plans, engage with local communities and environmental regulators and experts to ensure we're making the best decision for both our water supply and the River Bollin ecosystem. 

  • We care about our local environment. That's why we're:

    • Carrying out detailed environmental assessments to understand local wildlife, habitats and environmental features, to help us work out how we can protect these
    • Working closely with regulators like the Environment Agency and Natural England
    • Doing lots of surveys and monitoring so that our assessments are based on the best possible information

    • We're still working out the exact route for pipelines and where to put the water treatment works and abstraction point. We'll be undertaking further assessments, and talking to local stakeholders about this.
    • We’ll be submitting a scoping report to Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council in summer 2025, a short while after which they will respond with their scoping opinion. The scoping opinion details whether the council are happy for us to proceed with the work we suggest in the document, or whether there’s anything extra they would like us to add in to be able to go ahead with our assessments.
    • There will be a community consultation in 2026.
    • We aim to submit a planning application in 2027.
    • Further surveys and assessments will continue up until the planning application is submitted.
    • If approved, construction would begin in 2029. The scheme wouldn't be up and running before 2033.

     

  • We'll keep this page updated as the project progresses.

    If you want to speak to us sooner, please contact SRT@uuplc.co.uk.