New £6m project aims to boost Lancaster water quality

The water quality of the River Lune in Lancaster looks set to be improved thanks to a £6 million project commissioned by a regional firm.

United Utilities is planning to significantly upgrade the storm water overflow provisons of the waterway.

The scheme will see less rainwater flow into the river, which could also have a positive impact on bathing areas as far away as Morecambe Bay.

Environment Agency manager Elaine Fisher believes the initiative could help the area fall in line with EU environmental legislation relating to bathing water by 2015.

This forms part of an overall £3.6 billion project being run by the company in the north-west and new wastewater treatment solutions are currently being built in Blackburn and Preston.

Earlier this week, the European Environment Agency announced it would publish up-to-date water quality maps online. They would help people see which parts of the continent are most affected by different types of pollution.

Posted by Claire Manning