United Utilities: £55m plans to upgrade Sale wastewater treatment works

United Utilities has unveiled plans to upgrade its wastewater treatment works in Sale to improve water quality in the River Mersey.

The North West’s water company is investing more than £55 million on the site near Banky Lane over the next five years and this week it submitted an environmental impact assessment screening application to the council for the works.

The two projects will improve water quality in the River Mersey by enhancing treatment processes to reduce level of biological oxygen demand (BOD) in the treated wastewater that is returned to the environment and by creating new storage at the site which helps to reduce the number of times that the storm overflow operates during periods of heavy rain. 

Enabling works are expected to start in Spring with the main construction planned to start later this year and last until 2030.  The company is working with its contractors to guarantee that any potential disruption to the local community is mitigated.

Chris Borradaile, Wastewater Services Director at United Utilities, said: “We know how important improving water quality across the region is to our customers.  This scheme at our works in Sale will guarantee we’re treating wastewater to even higher standards whilst also reducing the number of times that the storm overflow operates, which will help to improve the water quality in the River Mersey.”

Elsewhere in Greater Manchester, United Utilities has a number of other projects that will help improve water quality on the River Mersey with works also planned at its sites in Partington, Stockport and Stretford.

It comes as United Utilities embarks on the largest investment in water and wastewater infrastructure for a century across the North West.  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 works will be delivered through United Utilities’ new Enterprise delivery model, bringing together United Utilities and seven design and construction partners as one integrated team.