Scheme launched to cut risk of sewerage flooding (From Western Telegraph)

Scheme launched to cut risk of sewerage flooding

DWR CYMRU Welsh Water is set to begin the second phase of its work to improve Haverfordwest's sewerage system.

Work on the sewerage system will begin in late August. It will increase the capacity of the network during storm conditions and reduce the risk of sewage flooding.

The most important part of the project will be the prevention of excess surface water entering the system during periods of very heavy rain.

Welsh Water's capital manager, Peter Childs, said: 'Work is planned at various locations within the town, some of which may affect local traffic. We are liaising with the highway authority and the police to keep disruption to a minimum. We hope that local people will bear with us while we carry out this important work for Haverfordwest.'

He explained that clean water from St Martins Brook is currently flowing into the sewerage system. It is planned to divert this flow into a new surface water drain to be laid along Perrot's Road to discharge into the Cleddau.

A further substantial quantity of water will be removed from the system by diverting surface water from the car park at Tesco into an existing surface water drain in Barn Street. Flow from the car park is currently carried within the sewer. There will also be additional work at this location to the existing foul sewer and overflow chamber.

Short lengths of pipelaying work will also be required at Quay Street and New Quay, while a new storm overflow chamber will be constructed at Union Hill. There is also minor work proposed at the existing Picton Pumping Station.

Mr Childs added: 'Local residents and businesses close to the proposed works will be kept informed about the progress of the work. While it is likely that there will be some disruption to the public, every effort will be made to limit this and keep inconvenience to a minimum'.

The work is being carried out, on behalf of Welsh Water, by Morrison Construction Ltd. Further information about the planned work is available from Rob Hancock on 01792 781450.

The work is part of Welsh Waters £1.2 billion investment programme from 2000 to 2005.

The majority of the programme is being undertaken by the Welsh Water Alliance, a group of strategic partners working together to deliver improvements to Welsh Waters infrastructure.

Under the ownership of Glas Cymru, Dwr Cymru Welsh Water has become a not-for-profit organisation whose objective is to deliver high quality services to customers at the lowest possible cost.

The leader of Pembrokeshire County Council, Councillor Maurice Hughes, has welcomed news of the improvement works.

'The flooding which occurs in and around Haverfordwest town centre during times of heavy rainfall has been of great concern to the council for some time, as the responsibility for the sewerage system lies with Welsh Water and not Pembrokeshire County Council,' said Councillor Hughes. 'Even though Welsh Water installed a very expensive scheme in the last two years, the flooding problem has remained and, in some parts of the town, appears to have worsened.

'This was highlighted during the electrical storm earlier this month when rainwater, contaminated with sewage, flooded several businesses in the Castle Square and Bridge Street areas of the town.

'The county council is very pleased to hear that the second phase of the improvement works is to commence soon and we shall be monitoring the situation to ensure that the scheme is successfully completed with the minimum of disruption to the public.'

During the most recent flooding in Haverfordwest, the county council sent out its workmen in the early hours of July 5th to help shop owners mop up their premises and save stock from floodwater, even though the council had no obligation to do so.