Environment Boss’ Stream of Praise for Rivers Project

THE outgoing Chairman of the Environment Agency, Lord Smith has praised United Utilities for bring dry rivers back to life in the North West.

The peer – who is standing down as the agency's chairman later this year – said his proudest achievement at the agency was to restore water to two rivers in Lancashire.

A pioneering £2 million scheme boosted the eco-system of two rivers in the Trough of Bowland

The scheme was the first of its kind in the country and helped the rivers Brennand and Whitendale prosper by taking less from them for drinking water supplies when levels are getting low. 

By restoring a more natural flow, there is a greater opportunity to enhance and protect fish and other habitats.

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph Lord Smith said: “There are two rivers up in the Forest of Bowland, the Brennand and Whitendale.

For the last 30 years or so those rivers have been dry because they’ve been siphoned off for water supply for some of the big Lancashire towns.

“It needed a lot of discussion with the local community and a lot of cooperation with United Utilities water company, some new finance mechanisms.

The former Labour Cabinet minister added: “But last year we were able to take the water from elsewhere and restore the water to the Brennand and the Whitendale and you now have two thriving rivers.”

Water was first taken from these two remote rivers in the 1870s, when it was used to provide supplies for the working mills and residents of east Lancashire. Now, in present day, these two rivers provide drinking water to homes and businesses in Blackburn and the Ribble Valley.

To make up the shortfall of water for homes in Blackburn, a new £12m pipeline from Martholme water treatment works, near Clayton-le-Moors, to Ramsgreave service reservoir was built.