Major upgrades are planned for wastewater treatment facilities serving Skelmersdale as part of a £230m investment by United Utilities aimed at improving the health of the River Douglas.
The North West water firm has unveiled proposals to modernise its treatment works near Skelmersdale, located between Hoscar and Parbold, alongside a scheme in Wigan.
The improvements are designed to meet the needs of a growing population while complying with stricter environmental standards.
Work is expected to begin later this year, with completion scheduled by 2030.
New treatment technology will be installed to ensure wastewater is processed to higher standards before being discharged. The upgrades are expected to significantly cut levels of phosphorus, ammonia and iron entering the River Douglas.
The investment will also increase the overall capacity of the works, helping to support future housing growth in the area.
Refurbishment of existing storm tanks is planned as part of the project, with the aim of reducing the frequency of storm overflow discharges during heavy rainfall.
United Utilities says the improvements reflect customer concerns about river quality and the impact of overflows.
Simon Holding, the company’s wastewater business lead for Lancashire, said: “This investment is vital for delivering improvements to water quality in the River Douglas.
“It will help us to future proof our wastewater services in the area as we see new housing developments and the local population continuing to grow.
“By upgrading our treatment works at Wigan and Skelmersdale with innovative technology, we can treat wastewater to much higher standards and reduce the number of times storm overflows operate, which is something our customers have told us they want to see.”
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While Skelmersdale will benefit from upgraded treatment processes, the wider scheme also includes the installation of a large-scale membrane bioreactor system at Wigan, described as the largest of its kind in the UK. United Utilities has also committed a further £50m to projects across Wigan to boost storm storage capacity.
The Skelmersdale works form part of a wider programme of investment across the North West, with United Utilities set to spend more than £13bn by 2030 to improve water quality and protect drinking water supplies.
The projects will be delivered through the company’s Enterprise delivery model, bringing together United Utilities and seven design and construction partners.
For Skelmersdale and surrounding areas, the scheme represents a significant infrastructure upgrade, with long-term benefits expected for both local communities and the River Douglas.
