United Utilities begins £3m project at Eastham Rake

A £3 million project to install a new stormwater culvert at Eastham Rake is now underway.

Once complete, the underground storage solution will be able to store 808,000 litres of stormwater - equivalent to just over 5300 bath tubs - providing essential extra capacity during periods of heavy rainfall.

This scheme will help reduce the need for storm overflows to operate and play a key role in improving water quality in the nearby Dibbinsdale Brook.

Steve Kenyon, County Business Lead for Wastewater Services in Merseyside, said: “Over the last few months, we’ve been working closely with local residents and key partners to ensure we carry out our work quickly and safely at Eastham Rake.

"The culvert will act as a huge holding area for the extra stormwater that enters the sewer network in periods of heavy rainfall. Creating this extra storage means it isn’t all hitting the wastewater treatment works at the same time, so the system is less likely to be overwhelmed. This will help to improve water quality in the brook and benefit the environment.”

The first phase of the project — setting up the site compound — began this week. During this time, a temporary footpath will be created around the park to maintain access to Millfields Primary School.

When the work is finished, improvements will include a new gated vehicle access track for maintenance from Archers Green and two new manholes on the grassed area of the park.

The original footpath and skate park will be reopened once construction is completed in September.

Standard working hours will remain 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday throughout the project. Any weekend working will be communicated in advance.

This scheme forms part of United Utilities’ wider environmental investment programme. The company is making major progress on the largest upgrade of water and wastewater infrastructure in the North West in a century, investing more than £13 billion to protect and enhance over 500km of rivers, lakes and bathing waters, while safeguarding drinking water supplies for millions of customers.