Tom Little

Last updated at 10:18, Tuesday, 05 February 2013

Households in Cumbria will see more than £81m poured into improving their water services over the next 12 months.

Water company United Utilities is spending the money over the coming financial year to deliver vital engineering schemes which will reduce water leaks and sewer flooding, safeguard future water supplies and help protect rivers and bathing waters.

Projects could include a £6m scheme to clean up water courses flowing into the Leven Estuary near Ulverston and £17m to boost the capacity of Carlisle's sewage works.

Work is also continuing on a £5m scheme to improve sewers at Bowness on Windermere and a major £23m scheme in Keswick aimed to boost the health of Bassenthwaite Lake.

The schemes are part of a record-breaking £3.6 billion investment programme for the North West's water and wastewater network, running between 2010 and 2015. Average household water bills are set to rise from April 1 to around £406, up £13 on last year, largely due to inflation.

Gary Dixon, United Utilities' customer services director said: "The small increase in prices this year is due largely to the rise in inflation. Even so, customers in the North West will still be paying around £1 per day, about the same as a loaf of bread, for all their water and sewerage services.

"We'll be putting that money to good use, by ensuring the region's water network, treatment works and sewer systems get the investment needed to deliver the service our customers expect."

Between 2010-2015, United Utilities is investing a total of £3.6 billion in the water and sewer network. It is estimated that this investment programme is creating around 9000 construction jobs and pumping around £7 billion into the North West economy.

First published at 10:17, Tuesday, 05 February 2013
Published by http://www.in-cumbria.com