A scheme to improve the water quality in the River Lune has just been announced by United Utilities. The £6m project will reduce the number of storm overflow outlets into the river in and around the Lancaster area.
At times of heavy rainfall, storm water outlets direct rainwater directly into the river when the waste water pipe cannot cope with any more water. When the first stage of the work commences later in the month, a new sewer crossing pipe will be installed at a depth of two metres below the river level.
The project manager on the work Dawn Harrington stated:
“This project will help improve the quality of water in the River Lune by making the sewer network even more effective in storm conditions.
“The work United Utilities is planning will help upsize the local sewer network in the North and South of the city. The improved sewer network will capture more water in the system, reducing the frequency of overflows.”
The pollution from the river Lune can affect water quality on the beaches of Morecambe Bay so the improvements should see water quality in the area improve somewhat. It’s hoped the works will also meet strict new EU quality targets which come into force in 2015.
As well as the new sewer crossing pipe, drainage engineers will be increasing the size of the sewer network, so it can hold more waste water and cope with the large volume of water during storm conditions.