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MANCHESTER - United Utilities Group PLC (OTC:UUGRY) has signed an agreement to refurbish the Haweswater aqueduct, a critical water infrastructure that serves 2.5 million customers across northern England, according to a press release issued Thursday.
The project, with an estimated construction cost of approximately £3 billion, will upgrade the nearly 70-year-old, 110km pipeline that transports 570 million liters of water daily from Cumbria to communities in Greater Manchester and Lancashire.
Construction is scheduled to begin in 2026 and will involve replacing six tunnel sections, primarily using underground tunneling techniques. The work will be executed by Cascade Infrastructure, a consortium with experience in similar European tunneling projects.
The Haweswater Aqueduct Resilience Programme (HARP) is the first water sector project to be delivered through a Direct Procurement for Customers model, designed to provide better value for customers. The contract encompasses design, construction, maintenance, and financing of the scheme.
The project is expected to create approximately 1,200 jobs during peak construction and will include an apprenticeship program.
"Today marks a significant step to ensure we have the right infrastructure to provide a resilient water supply to communities right across the region for decades to come," said Louise Beardmore, Chief Executive at United Utilities (LON:UU).
Water Minister Emma Hardy described the project as "one of the largest infrastructure projects ever seen in Britain," while Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham noted the investment would secure water supplies needed for the region’s growth.
The program has received approval from Ofwat, the UK’s water services regulatory authority, marking what the regulator called "a huge step forward for the water industry as a whole."
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