Major £34m water quality schemes underway across Bury, Prestwich and Whitefield

Work is underway on three projects that will improve water quality in the River Irwell and its tributaries around Bury. 

United Utilities is set to invest more than £34m on the three schemes at sites in Bury, Prestwich and Whitefield to reduce the number of times that storm overflows operate.

At its treatment works in the town, the company is spending £28m.  This will see two new 3000m3 storm tanks built at the site.  The project is expected to be completed in June 2026. 

In Prestwich, a project has started to improve water quality in Prestwich Clough and the River Irwell.  The North West’s water company is spending £2.5m to build an underground storage tank at a site off Clifton Road.  Work has started on the tank that will be 120m3 and is expected to be completed in Autumn 2026. 

Whilst in Whitefield, the company is building a 40m3 storm tank on the grounds of Whitefield Golf Club with further sewer upgrades taking place on a nearby estate.  The £3.7m project is also due to be completed in the autumn with full reinstatement completed by the end of the year.

In total, there will be more than 6,100m3 of additional storage in the sewer network in the area – that’s more than two and a half Olympic sized swimming pools.

The projects build on previous investment in projects around Bury and Ramsbottom that have helped to reduce spills into watercourse like the Rivers Roch and Irwell.

Chris Borradaile, Wastewater Services Director for United Utilities, said: “These three projects mark another important step in improving water quality in the River Irwell and its tributaries around Bury. By investing in extra storm storage and targeted sewer upgrades, we can significantly reduce the number of times storm overflows operate, something we know our customers want to see.

“This work builds on the progress we are already making across Bury and Greater Manchester, and forms part of the largest programme wastewater investment for a century in the North West.”

The company is more than £13bn over the next five years to protect and enhance over 500km of rivers, lakes and bathing waters whilst safeguarding drinking water supplies for millions of customers.