Water works to be improved in Greater Manchester

Water Company United Utilities are to spend over £91m over the next year on improving the water supply in the Greater Manchester area.

The company will be carrying out engineering schemes that will reduce leaks and sewer flooding, safeguarding future water supplies.

Projects that are to set take place over the next financial year are all part of a plan that will run until 2015, which according to United Utilities, is expected to create 9000 construction jobs and bring in around £7bn into the North West’s economy.

The schemes include the completion of the West-East Link Main, an historic 55km Liverpool-Manchester water main capable of transporting more than 100 million litres of water each day; work to protect homes from sewer flooding in several parts of Manchester; a major cleaning programme for the Manchester ring main - the water network's equivalent of the M60 motorway - and an upgrade of technology at Davyhulme wastewater treatment works.

Average household water bills are set to rise from April 1 to around £376, up £14 on last year, in line with inflation.

Gary Dixon, United Utilities' customer services director said: "The small increase in prices this year is due to the rise in inflation. Even so, customers in the North West will still be paying around £1 per day for all their water and sewerage services from April.

"We'll be spending the money wisely, by ensuring the region's water network, treatment works and sewer systems get the investment needed to deliver a world-class service to our customers.

"We know that many families are hard pressed at the moment, and we are committed to keeping bills affordable. Over the next few years, we have no big bill increases in store for customers. We offer a range of manageable ways to pay bills, and provide dedicated support for customers who are really struggling to pay."