United Utilities, the company responsible for the water in England's Northeast, is launching a program to clean or upgrade ‘trunk mains’ on the Wirral peninsula. These large pipes act as the motorways of the local water network, transporting millions of litres of water a day throughout the area.

The scheme by United Utilities will see around 40 km of pipes in Wallasey, Ellesmere Port and Birkenhead cleaned to remove harmless sediment that has built up over the years. Where the old metal pipes are in a poor condition, they will be replaced with modern new plastic equivalents.

Work has begun along Pooltown Road in Ellesmere Port. Engineers will first head south from the junction with Regent Street to the roundabout at Sutton Way. Work will then progress north on Pooltown Road, again starting at the junction with Regent Street, and heading north up Pooltown Road, Marbury Gardens, Servite Close, across the railway line onto Overpool Road before finishing just past the roundabout on Rivacre Road.

United Utilities Project Manager Mike Addison said “This work is essential for water quality. Over time, pipes can fur up on the inside and deposits of iron and manganese get into the water. Although harmless, it can cause some discolouration and we are keen to tackle it.

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“Cleaning or replacing the pipes will ensure Wirral households can continue to enjoy high quality drinking water for many years to come. It’s a big undertaking, which is why we will be carrying out the work in several phases.

“We are aiming to deliver the work on Pooltown Road with a minimal amount of disruption. Thankfully, a road closure will not be necessary, but we would advise motorists to add a few minutes to their journey times, given that temporary traffic lights will be in place.

This phase of work will take approximately six weeks.