Booster station to improve water supply
AN upgraded water treatment works could be constructed on the outskirts of Widnes after plans were submitted.
United Utilities is intending to build a new booster station at Pex Hill Water Treatment Works And Country Park in a bid to increase the supply of drinking water.
The plans have also been submitted to neighbouring Knowsley Borough Council, as well as Halton, and the majority of work will take place within the areas belonging to Knowsley.
A design and access statement prepared by Hatch Architecture and submitted as part of the proposals said the planned booster station is part of an ongoing scheme to increase drinking water availability to the ‘local area’ after it was identified as ‘inadequate’ last June.
An access road, pipework and ground level changes are also proposed at the site, where building work began last September off Cronton Lane. The statement said: “It is important that the proposals does not detract from its setting or impede on existing pedestrian pathways, therefore the natural topography of the land adjacent to the booster ● station will remain unchanged where possible.
“Requirement of the booster station has been identified as a necessity for the increased supply of drinking water.
“After evaluating several options for placement, the siting taken forward is proposed to be the most viable location to perform its required function.
“The form of the building is dictated by its purpose and the external appearance embeds factors such as park user safety and local context.
“Regular maintenance of the surrounding landscape aims to support a high quality environment.”
A further separate statement from United Utilities accompanying the application justifying why the work is being done said a Drought Plan from last June envisaged boreholes at Pex Hill and elsewhere would need to be brought into use in the event of a drought or high demand during ‘significant’ dry weather.
The new booster station helps to increase water supply, as well as generate a surplus into a reservoir.
It said: “The upgrade works at the Water Treatment Works is required to ensure that the water provided at the site meets modern drinking water standards as set by the Drinking Water Inspectorate.
“Previously when the boreholes were brought into supply the water had very little treatment. However, there is now a need for significant treatment to be undertaken to meet the required standards.
“There has been a water treatment works at Pex Hill for many years and the additional facilities need to be integrated into the treatment processes on site and upstream of the service reservoir such that water treated to the required standards can flow via gravity into the service reservoir for storage prior to serving the water network.
“The most sustainable form of development is to utilise the existing operational site which is at the optimum location to supply the network.”