A joint venture between Northern Irish contractor Farrans and Atkins has been drawing up detailed plans for a large 13km pipeline from Thirlmere reservoir in the Lake District to Bridekirk, under an £850,000 contract.
Its route from the reservoir will loosely follow the direction of A591 northwards through Keswick, passing east of Bassenthwaite, before turning due west towards Williamsgate.
From Williamsgate treatment works a new treated water trunk main will deliver water to Summergrove service reservoir near Whitehaven.
J Murphy & Sons has signed a £1.3m design contract covering its early involvement in this section of the project.
Contractors have already been invited to prequalify for major works contracts, with shortlisted firms due to be invited tender within weeks.
In total, five existing water treatment works will also be decommissioned once the new pipeline is commissioned. These will be at Ennerdale, Cornhow, Quarry Hill, Buttermere and Thirlmere.
United Utilities aims to start construction of the major four and a half year project in March 2017.
John Hilton, United Utilities’ programme director, said: “This will give west Cumbria a new drinking supply, which is much more reliable and more capable of meeting the area’s future demands.”
Thirlmere Transfer West Cumbria Water Supplies Project
£300m works programme
- 32 km of raw water aqueduct (800 mm — 1,200 mm).
- 37 km of new water mains (300 mm — 500 m) including three new pumping stations delivering 15Ml/d.
- 20 km of water mains refurbishment using slipline technology (300 mm — 500 mm).
- 1 new WTW — 90Ml/d abstraction.
- 3 new Service Reservoirs.
- 1 service reservoir refurbishment.
- Decommission 5 service reservoirs.
- Decommission 3 water treatment works.
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