In the run up to the Greater Manchester Green Summit, we’re previewing what to expect on the day and hearing from our headline sponsors and official partners.
In this blog, headline sponsor United Utilities looks at the role rainfall management has to play in GM’s Five-Year Environment Plan ambitions.
Click here to find out more about Green Summit 2024.
As the Greater Manchester City Region launches its Five-Year Environment Plan, United Utilities is excited to join forces with policymakers, business leaders, environmental groups and sustainability experts to support its ambitions.
We’re proud to have supported the development of this plan and many of its ambitions are mirrored in our own business plan for 2025-30. This is where we outline our plans to deliver cleaner rivers, more reliable water supplies and extra support for customers struggling with bills through our biggest investment in more than a century.
In Greater Manchester, this will fuel growth in the region, bring skills and opportunities, capture and slow the flow of rainwater, and improve rivers like the Irwell, Irk and Mersey.
We’ve engaged with 95,000 people across the North West to make sure we’re addressing the things customers tell us are most important.
The city region is booming, and its population continues to increase. Through partnerships, we will provide the critical water infrastructure to support this growth and develop the green economy.
The legacy of the industrial revolution and the impact of transferring and treating wastewater from 2.8 million people means that river water quality in the Irwell and Mersey catchments requires improvement.
Furthermore, sitting in a huge natural basin means that flooding from rivers, sewers and surface water presents challenges for Mancunian homes and businesses.
Our investment to reduce spills from storm overflows, upgrade wastewater treatment works and better manage rainwater will help support both flood reduction and improvements in river water quality, making Greater Manchester a great place to live and work.
Investing for the future
As well as reducing storm overflow operations, we’re upgrading wastewater treatment works including those in Salford, Bury, Bolton, Saddleworth, Eccles, Stockport, Sale and Davyhulme where we will continue to develop our cutting-edge low-energy carbon hub.
These improvements will increase capacity enabling this vital infrastructure to treat more wastewater. They will also see the introduction of new treatment methods which will boost river health by reducing phosphorus from used water that is released at the end of the treatment process.
Managing Manchester’s rainwater
Of course, Greater Manchester is known for its rainfall, and we are investing to better manage this. As well as creating extra capacity in the sewer network, we will continue working with partners to increase the uptake of sustainable drainage and nature-based solutions which will slow the flow into our sewers.
These interventions not only enhance climate resilience, they also provide valuable green spaces to enhance urban spaces for residents and visitors.
To ensure we identify the right solutions and develop outcomes which deliver for local people and the needs of the environment, we’re already working in partnership with other organisations to develop cost-effective investment and planning in local areas.
Collaboration is key
We firmly believe partnership working is the key not only to responding to the challenges of climate change and population growth, but also to maximising the potential this region can offer by driving inward investment, providing great quality skilled jobs and igniting the economy.
One of our key partnerships is here in Greater Manchester where we are a partner in the city region’s Integrated Water Management Plan. Working with the GMCA and the Environment Agency, this plan has created a new framework for collaboratively addressing the numerous and complex water challenges facing Greater Manchester.
This builds on work we have already delivered across the city region in partnership with local authority partners.
We’ve co-funded projects in Altrincham, Bolton, Oldham and Sale to introduce raingardens, permeable surfaces and other rainwater management measures into existing urban development projects.
Not only have these provided attractive green spaces, but such schemes are successfully mitigating surface water flooding problems.
Shy Bayly, United Utilities’ Area Engagement Lead for Greater Manchester said: “Through the Integrated Water Management Plan, we will continue to work together to share expertise and manage water differently by developing and delivering projects that find new ways to harness nature and support more sustainable urban development.
“We want to go further and faster and believe that working together with local authorities and local communities is the key to achieving this. We are discussing this in our green summit workshop where we look at the collaboration that is needed to deliver a water-fuelled future for Greater Manchester.”
To put it simply, we are stronger together.
Find out more
Join United Utilities for a fast-paced, no holds barred, interactive workshop at the Green Summit.
Time: 11.05 – 12.00
Where: Compass Room, the Lowry Theatre
