United Utilities this week began the £6.3M replacement of Victorian water mains in Runcorn, Cheshire.
Engineers will replace old water pipes at Moughland Lane, Oxford Road and adjacent roads as part of phase one.
United Utilities' project engineer Keith Saltmarsh said: "This phase will last for approximately 20 weeks and 500 customers in this area of Runcorn will benefit directly from it."
"These cast-iron pipes have been in the ground most of the last century," said Saltmarsh explaining the project's importance.
"Corrosion can cause bursts and leaks and natural deposits can build up in the pipes, which can cause low pressure and discoloured water," he added.
United Utilities engineers will be using the latest pipe-laying techniques called slip-lining to keep disruption to a minimum for local people.
"Slip-lining is the equivalent of keyhole surgery for water mains. We only need to dig small access holes instead of open trenches and then the new plastic pipes can be fed through the old ones," Saltmarsh explained."
The work is part of United Utilities' £2.9bn water quality and environmental improvement programme between 2005-2010.
You might also like...
Northern Ireland civils firm wins £30M-plus Kent sewer deal
Northern Ireland civil engineering firm Terra Solutions has been awarded a contract worth more than £30M to deliver Southern Water’s Victorian sewer rehabilitation project in Kent.
Beard awarded Clifton Suspension Bridge toll house replacement contract
Swindon-based construction firm Beard has been appointed as main contractor for the replacement toll houses project on the Clifton Suspension bridge.
£1bn Aberdeen bypass to finally open today
Today the 58km Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR) will finally open in full, with the project costing at least £1bn. But is it the end of the road for the saga which has taken a huge toll on the firms building it?
100km Cumbria water pipe contractors to generate live reports
Water regulator Ofwat is set to receive live updates on the construction of a 100km pipeline in West Cumbria.
Have your say
You must sign in to make a comment
Please remember that the submission of any material is governed by our Terms and Conditions and by submitting material you confirm your agreement to these Terms and Conditions. Please note comments made online may also be published in the print edition of New Civil Engineer. Links may be included in your comments but HTML is not permitted.