A bold £525 million investment is set to revolutionize wastewater management in Salford, promising a greener and more resilient future for the city. But here's where it gets controversial...
At the forefront of this ambitious project are two flagship treatment works, each with its own unique challenges and benefits. The first, Salford wastewater treatment works, is in line for a £225 million transformation. This revamp will introduce an innovative process to remove even more ammonia and phosphorus from treated water before it's released into the Manchester Ship Canal. However, due to limited space, the plan requires the demolition of five existing trickling filters to make way for new construction. The works will be executed in two phases, with the first phase focusing on the contaminated land area, providing the necessary process capacity to free up some of the existing trickling filter beds for the next stage.
The second flagship project, Eccles wastewater treatment works, will see an even more significant investment of £302 million. This scheme includes an impressive 60,000m3 underground storage tank, equivalent to an astonishing 24 Olympic-sized swimming pools! The plan also involves a new pumping station, screening plant, and odour control systems. Similar to Salford, the construction will require the demolition of the existing north bank of six trickling filters to free up land.
The additional storage capacity will be a game-changer, reducing the strain on the network during heavy rainfall and significantly cutting spills into Salteye Brook and the Manchester Ship Canal. And this is the part most people miss: the Eccles scheme is just one component of a larger project already underway near the M60 at Liverpool Road, where an underground tank with a capacity of 5,700m3 is being constructed. Additionally, sewer capacity at Peel Green Road will be enhanced to mitigate local flood risks.
Environmental Impact Assessment screening requests have been submitted to Salford Council for both treatment works upgrades, ensuring that the projects are thoroughly evaluated for their potential ecological effects.
Chris Borradaile, Wastewater Services Director at United Utilities, emphasizes the importance of these upgrades: "We understand the significance of improving water quality across the North West for our customers. That's why we're committed to delivering projects like these with urgency. This is one of the most substantial upgrades we've undertaken for the wastewater network in Salford, and it will have a profound positive impact on the water quality in Salteye Brook and the Manchester Ship Canal."
The Salford programme is an integral part of United Utilities' £13 billion Big North West Upgrade, a comprehensive initiative that aims to drive new infrastructure, replace aging water mains, reduce leakage, and minimize storm overflows by 60% by 2030 while safeguarding over 500km of rivers and bathing waters.
So, what do you think? Is this ambitious wastewater reset a step towards a greener future, or does it raise concerns about the potential impact on the existing ecosystem? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
