en.Wedoany.com Reported - Knutsford Mayor and local councillors Brian Hartley, Peter Coan, and Colin Banks visited United Utilities' Parkgate Lane construction site last week. This £48 million project aims to upgrade the Cheshire wastewater network and improve water treatment quality in the town of Knutsford.
The first phase of the project is delivering a 1.8km-long stormwater tunnel, reaching depths of 20 meters. It can hold up to 5.5 million litres of rainwater during heavy storms, which will subsequently be treated at the Knutsford Wastewater Treatment Works. The tunnel boring machine, named "Lily" by pupils from Bexton Primary School after a local waterway, is expected to complete the tunnelling work by mid-2027. Jane Simpson, United Utilities' Director of Commercial Engineering and Capital Delivery, said: "Once complete, this scheme will be able to store up to 5.5 million litres of stormwater during heavy rainfall – equivalent to the capacity of two Olympic-sized swimming pools."
The second phase, in collaboration with Natural England and Tatton Estate, involves removing a century's worth of sediment from Mere Pond to improve the water treatment environment. Last month, a fish relocation operation was carried out at Mere Pond, where specialist contractors netted and transferred 19 pike, 24 bream, 1 carp, and numerous roach and perch to upstream of Piave. After the completion of the water treatment-related works, fish are expected to naturally repopulate Mere Pond from downstream areas near Middle Pool.
Jane Simpson stated: "This project highlights our ongoing commitment to improving water quality in the county and demonstrates how close collaboration with partners can deliver innovative stormwater management solutions within a conservation area." The stormwater tunnel is designed to alleviate sewer overflow issues during heavy storms, with the stored rainwater being conveyed to the wastewater treatment works for processing after the storm has passed.
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