£90 million clean-up for Manchester Ship Canal (From Messenger Newspapers)

United Utilities to carry out £90 million clean-up for Manchester Ship Canal

10:00am Friday 22nd February 2013 in News

THE Manchester Ship Canal is set for the biggest ever clean-up in its 120 year history.

Water company United Utilities has announced a £90 million package of sewer improvements in and around the Trafford Park, Salford and Eccles corridor.

Water bosses say it will lead to the return of fish in the waterway.

The ship canal was opened in January 1894 to bring sea-going ships from Liverpool to the Port of Manchester in Salford.

And while the ships used its waters to bring goods into the city, the canal was also used to carry away the water from overflowing drains after heavy rain.

United Utilities’ clean-up programme is targeted at Westinghouse/Fraser Place in Trafford Park and other locations in Salford, Eccles and Worsley, between spring 2013 and December 2015.

David Baines, United Utilities senior project manager, said: “The Victorian sewer engineers built an amazing infrastructure to keep our towns and streets well drained even during heavy rain.

"But their solution has taken its toll on the water quality in the ship canal and the time has come for this to be put right.

“Our schemes will build more rainwater storage into the city’s sewers so that they are less likely to overflow into local watercourses and the ship canal.

"It’s a big programme of work but it will bring a much cleaner environment for all to enjoy.”

The work will involve diverting sewers, building large new underground storage tanks to hold more rainwater in the sewer system and installing sieve-like screens in the sewers to strain out sanitary litter before it can reach watercourses.

David added: “There will be some temporary disruption while the work takes place but we’ll do everything we can to keep this to a minimum.

"We’re talking to local residents and businesses as our plans progress and the end result will make it worthwhile - especially for those householders who have been affected by sewer flooding.”