HOMES and businesses could soon be tapping into an alternative source of drinking water from the Trough of Bowland.

United Utilities is laying a £11million pipeline as a back-up to water supplies which usually come from the Lake District.

The new pipeline will provide an alternative supply for people in Accrington, Burnley and the Ribble Valley who are presently fed by the Haweswater Aqueduct.

It was built in the 1930s and the new pipeline allows United Utilities the flexibility to carry out future maintenance work.

Dave Dewar, United Utilities project manager, said: "It's not unusual to have to carry out some preparatory work before a major maintenance programme, but an £11million scheme like this is preparation on a grand scale!"

"It's essential that we maintain supplies while carrying out major work, and this extra pipeline will give us the flexibility we need to keep the taps flowing in Lancashire if we need to work on the aqueduct."

The new pipeline -- 14km in length -- is being laid along the route of the River Hodder between Whitewell in the Trough of Bowland and Clitheroe.

It will tap into the Hodder Aqueduct which carries water cross-county from Stocks Reservoir over to the Fylde Coast.

The work has raised some tricky engineering challenges including laying the pipeline over a number of river crossings and through ravine cuttings, while ensuring that no damage is caused to the environment.

Mr Dewar explained: "Because we are working so near the River Hodder we have been liaising very closely with the Environment Agency to make sure that any impact is minimised.

In particular, we are carefully monitoring any rainfall run-off from the excavations into the river."

The ductile iron pipeline, which is nearly two-and-a-half feet wide, is being built in sections before being buried and the surface will then be replaced as before.

This week the project team is tackling a road and river crossing at the village of West Bradford near Clitheroe.

Mr Dewar explained: "This is an awkward part of the scheme as there is very little room for manoeuvre and we will have to close the road temporarily to bring in the earth-moving equipment.

We will try to keep disruption to a minimum and I would ask local people for their patience."

The road closure will last for five weeks and diversions will be clearly marked.

Mr Dewar added: "As well as providing back-up supplies during maintenance, the new pipeline also extends our growing "water grid" across the North West, allowing us to balance water resources across the region."

They will be completed by October.