Customers asked for feedback on five-year project to refurbish Vrynwy aqueduct

People living in Cheshire and Merseyside are being asked to give their feedback on plans for a five-year project to refurbish the Vyrnwy Aqueduct.

The 110km aqueduct – which runs from Lake Vyrnwy through to Merseyside - was completed in 1892 and comprises of three parallel pipelines, delivering high quality drinking water to communities across Cheshire, Merseyside and the wider North West region.

Regional water company, United Utilities, has set up an online virtual exhibition to showcase its current plans to complete the massive maintenance project and is asking the public to comment on the access points it’s proposing to use along the pipeline route.

Chris Tighe of United Utilities explains: “The aqueduct requires maintenance to preserve the high quality drinking water that we supply to customers.

“Over time, a build-up of natural minerals can settle within the aqueduct pipelines from the water running through them. These minerals don’t pose any health risks but can result in discoloration of the water if disturbed and be detrimental to the internal condition of the pipe.

“We have already refurbished 40 per cent of the pipe and will now be completing the remaining length from Malpas through to Merseyside between now and 2028. We’re asking for feedback to help shape our plans and inform future communication regarding this work.”

The virtual exhibitions will show customers the proposed working areas which will be needed to carry out the refurbishment work along the pipeline route and allow the water company to hear the thoughts of the local communities. In some cases, two different options are being considered and customers are being asked to help with the decision on which one should be selected.

Face to face meetings for members of the public will also be held later this year and customers will be contacted closer to the events with further details.

The next stage of this project will start in 2023 and be split into three sections:

• Malpas to Tarporley
• Tarporley to Norton
• Norton to Prescot

The virtual exhibition is now live and open for customers feedback at https://uuhub.co.uk/vyrnwy/ with the first planning applications expected to be submitted during March 2022.