Multi-million pound revamp for Leeds water pipe network

Water pipes in Leeds are getting a six-figure makeover to help cope with a spike in demand for water across the city.
Yorkshire Water.Yorkshire Water.
Yorkshire Water.

The £1.4million renovation will see six ‘smart’ valves installed across six key areas of the city’s underground network.

The project is being carried out to help meet the rise in demand for water is due to expansion in the city centre and new leisure and retail openings such as Leeds Arena and Trinity Leeds shopping centre.

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Around 12million litres of water are consumed each day in Leeds city centre alone.

As a result of the works, University Road will be closed for seven weeks with a diversion route put in place until the valve is fully installed by Yorkshire Water technicians.

Jayne Blackburn, project manager at Yorkshire Water, said: “This is an exciting new project for Yorkshire Water and will give us greater intelligence about how our water pipe network in the city centre operates.

“One interesting location that these valves are being installed is Woodhouse Lane.

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“The water pipe here provides water to Leeds Arena and when the arena is being used, the demand for water in this area goes up significantly and so supply is crucial to ensure events can take place.”

The project involves specialist sensors being installed in the pipes that are capable of remotely talking to the valves to open and close them and in doing so control water flow.

The work is being carried out by Yorkshire Water’s contract partners Morrison Utility Services and aims to be finished by end of September.

The work forms part of a wider multi-million pound package announced in December by Yorkshire Water. The scheme will create 300 new jobs to help the firm become a top performer in the water sector.