en.Wedoany.com Reported - United Utilities plans to invest more than £230 million to upgrade the Wigan and Skelmersdale wastewater treatment plants in Lancashire, UK, in order to improve the water quality of the River Douglas. The North West water company is advancing this project to meet local population growth and address more stringent environmental standards. Work is expected to commence later this year, with all improvements to be completed by 2030.

At both sites, new technology will be installed to ensure wastewater treatment meets higher standards before discharge, reducing pollutants such as phosphorus, ammonia, and iron entering the River Douglas. By refurbishing existing storm tanks, the new processes will also increase treatment capacity and reduce the number of storm overflow operations during heavy rainfall. The Wigan wastewater treatment plant will see the installation of the UK's largest Membrane Bioreactor (MBR), a high-performance filtration technology that provides cleaner water and additional treatment capacity, supporting the region's long-term development. Previously, United Utilities invested £50 million across six sites in Wigan to increase storage capacity to reduce storm overflows.

Simon Hallidin, United Utilities' Wastewater Business Lead for Lancashire, stated: "This investment is crucial for improving the water quality of the River Douglas. It will help us ensure the future sustainability of our wastewater services in the face of new housing developments and continued population growth. By upgrading the treatment plants with innovative technology, we can treat wastewater to an even higher standard and reduce the frequency of storm overflow operations." This scheme forms part of the company's largest investment in water and wastewater in the North West in a century, totaling over £13 billion by 2030, aiming to improve the quality of more than 500km of rivers. The works will be delivered through an Enterprise delivery model, with the company and its seven partners advancing it jointly.

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