United Utilities to improve water quality across Tameside with £215m investment

United Utilities is set to invest £215m improving water quality around Tameside over the next five years. 

The company is set to upgrade three of its treatment works and reduce the number of times that up to 20 storm overflows in the area operate, with the first project set to start later this year. 

At Dukinfield Wastewater treatment works, new technology will be installed to ensure that the treated wastewater that is returned to the environment will be improved to reduce phosphorus and ammonia levels.  The project will also reduce the number of storm overflow operations at the site. 

Whilst projects at Ashton-Under-Lyne and Hyde wastewater treatment works will also see new technology installed at the sites to improve the quality of the treated wastewater. 

The storm overflow improvements are spread across the drainage areas of Ashton, Dukinfield, Hyde and Mossley. 

All the projects will help improve water quality in the River Tame and its tributaries of Denton Book and Swineshaw Brook.

Chris Borradaile, Wastewater Lead for Greater Manchester at United Utilities, said: “We’ve got really ambitious plans for improving water quality right across Tameside over the next five years. 

“By upgrading our three biggest works in the area and tackling up to 20 storm overflows, it will really help to improve the River Tame and its tributaries.”

It comes as United Utilities embarks on the largest investment in water and wastewater infrastructure for a century.  The company will be spending more than £13bn over the next five years to protect and enhance over 500km of rivers, lakes and bathing waters whilst safeguarding drinking water supplies for millions of customers.

The projects at Dukinfield, Hyde and Ashton-Under-Lyne treatment works are being delivered through United Utilities new Enterprise delivery model which brings together seven design and construction partners, plus United Utilities, into one integrated team.