The pipes are fed from the 27 inch Hodder Aqueduct, which underwent a £70 million refurbishment last year, and suppies water to 30,000 households daily. Starting in March, they will be cleaned by specialist cleaning teams from United Utilities, using a technique called Robust Flushing. This involves flushing short lengths of water main at controlled opening points on the water network. With the aid of pressure already inside the water main, the deposits of iron and manganese which naturally build up inside the pipes are removed. Although harmless, these deposits can cause discolouration of local drinking water.

Project Engineer Ray Melia said “This cleaning program will help us fight against discolouration in the local water supply, so our customers will always have clean, fresh drinking water when they turn on their taps.”

It is intended that the project will be completed by September 2010.