Millom Wastewater Treatment Works

Millom can be found on the north shore of the estuary of the River Duddon in the Lake District National Park, around 7 miles north of Barrow-in-Furness in southwest Cumbria.

As part of the AMP5 upgrade undertaken by United Utilities, various treatment plant upgrades were implemented. These were, for the most part, designed to improve the quality of the discharge. These improvements included, among other things, the installation of new tanks and channels that were up to 9m deep and 7.5 m below the standing groundwater level.

Despite the close proximity of the estuary and hugely variable glacial deposits (which ranged from cobbles and boulders to very fine silty sand), WJ successfully undertook the challenge of dewatering a total of 6 structures. This enabled the main contractor, KMI JV (and their subcontractors, Centum Ltd & Bethell Construction Ltd), to carry out their works in dry conditions. A range of techniques was used, including handheld wellpoint jetting inside cofferdams, wellpoints installed by placing tubing and deepwells installed by deploying a rotary rig.

A real team effort that strengthened several competitor relationships and inspired confidence in the client.

• LOCATION: Millom, Cumbria
• CLIENT: United Utilities
• MAIN CONTRACTOR: KMI JV, Centum Ltd, Bethell Construction Ltd