Scheme to boost water quality to households

Yorkshire Water announced that it will launch the latest stage of the scheme to replace or upgrade ageing water pipes dating back to the Victorian era in the Harrogate and Ripon areas.

A total of 15,000 homes will be supplied with better water quality once the work to clean and create a new lining in 440 yards of cast iron pipe has been completed.

However, motorists have been warned to expect disruption as diversions will be in place for five weeks when Cornwall Road in Harrogate is closed to allow the upgrade to the major water main in the spa town to be carried out.

Yorkshire Water’s project manager, Dave Standish, said: “This essential work will ensure we continue to supply the best quality water to customers in the area.

“We recognise that this work will cause some disruption. But we want to reassure local residents and road users that we’ll be doing everything we can to minimise disruption and complete this project as quickly as possible.”

Work on the £600,000 project is due to start on Wednesday, January 2, and will be carried out by engineering specialists from Yorkshire Water’s contractors, Balfour Beatty.

The project will see a plastic lining put in place once the pipe has been cleaned, and it is aimed at ensuring that it has an additional 20 years of service.

Cleaning and lining the pipe is the alternative to laying a new one, which is not only more costly, but would take around triple the time to finish.

The road closure will be in place from near the junctions of Kent Road to Harlow Moor Road, although Yorkshire Water has stressed access will be maintained for residents.

The company also confirmed Balfour Beatty employees will not require access to local properties, and residents are being urged to be on their guard for bogus callers.

The project in Cornwall Road is part of a bigger plan drawn up by Yorkshire Water to improve drinking water quality across the area.

More than six miles of pipeline is being replaced and nearly three-and-a-quarter of a mile relined in Harrogate and Knaresborough. Almost five miles of pipes will be replaced in Ripon, with the work expected to be completed by the end of the summer next year.

email [email protected]