More than £122 million is set to be spent on Greater Manchester's wastewater systems in a bid to reduce the amount of sewage pumped into rivers by more than 10 million tonnes.
The investment will see 184km of the region's rivers improved by 2025 and reduce the need for 'storm spills'. Storm spills are a measure used to prevent flooding when there is too much rain, by mixing rain water with sewage and eventually flowing back into rivers and seas. United Utilities say that 4,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools could be filled with the amount of waste that the scheme will prevent from entering waterways.
Bolton is getting the biggest chunk of money (£57 million) which will be used to build additional storage capacity at Bolton wastewater treatment works and seven other locations in the area, reducing the need for storm spills and improving 21km of the River Croal. Bury will also receive £50 million to upgrade Bury wastewater treatment works, which will in turn improve 40km of the River Irwell.
