By rosebell
Giant tunnel boring machine emerges at Knutsford after completing underground drive
TBM Lily completed the first stage of tunnelling, from Moor Pool to Knutsford Wastewater Treatment Works, as part of United Utilities’ £48m upgrade to the sewer system.
The boring machine will now return to Parkgate and be lowered underground before embarking on the second part of its journey – this time in the opposite direction to Moor Pumping Station.
The 1.8km storage tunnel between the pumping station and wastewater treatment works will provide extra stormwater storage and improve water quality in Moor Pool.
Once complete, the tunnel will be 20m underground at its deepest point, 2m in diameter and will store up to 5.5 million litres of stormwater in periods of heavy rainfall, before being treated at Knutsford wastewater treatment works.
Maria Fletcher, county business lead for wastewater in Cheshire said the project highlighted how working closely with partners could offer alternative and innovative solutions to stormwater management in protected areas.
“This is also a remarkable feat of engineering, delivering major underground infrastructure that will store up to five and a half million litres of stormwater in periods of heavy rainfall – that’s equivalent to two Olympic sized swimming pools – and reduce storm overflow activations,” she said.
The project is part of United Utilities’ investment in water and wastewater infrastructure in north-west England. Over the next five years the company will spend more than £13bn to protect and enhance over 500km of rivers, lakes, and bathing waters.
