United Utilities Group PLC (UU) (LSE: UU.), the United Kingdom's largest listed water company, was founded in 1995 as a result of the merger of North West Water and NORWEB.

The group manages the regulated water and waste water network in North West England - which includes Cumbria, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside which have a combined population of nearly 7 million.^[2] The United Utilities Group was the distribution network operator for the North West until 2010 when the electricity subsidiary was sold to Electricity North West. United Utilities headquarters are in Warrington and the company has 9,000 employees. Its shares are listed on the London Stock Exchange and the FTSE 100 Index.

North West England is the wettest region in England,^[3] and water hardness across the region is soft to very soft.^[4]

History[link]

In 1990 North West Water and NORWEB, the companies responsible for the provision of water and electricity to the North West, were privatised.^[5] In 1995, they merged forming United Utilities but retained their separate identities.

In 1998, UU listed on the New York Stock Exchange,^[6] but delisted their shares in 2007.^[7] In 2000, North West Water and NORWEB branding was phased out in favour of one single brand under United Utilities, a rebranding that was completed by the end of 2001.^[5]

It sold its telecoms business, Your Communications in 2006, and Vertex in March 2007.^[8] In December 2007, United Utilities sold its electricity distribution network assets to North West Electricity Networks (Jersey) Limitied, a joint venture between funds run by Colonial First State (part of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia) and US investment bank JPMorgan Chase. Electricity North West Limited became the licensed Distribution Network Operator for the north west of England as a consequence of the sale.^[9] United Utilities continued to operate and maintain the network on behalf of Electricity Northwest until 2010, when Electricity Northwest bought the electricity network operations and maintenance arm of United Utilities to establish one Group which owns, operates, manages and maintains the network.^[10][11]

In 2011, United Utilities were selected as the preferred bidder by Severn Trent Water to purchase the Lake Vyrnwy estate for £11 million.^[12] In 2012, United Utilities proposed a national water pipeline from water sources in Manchester to London.^[13]

Reservoirs[link]

United Utilities' wastewater treatment plant for Preston, Lancashire

A sign with the former North West Water branding.

Haweswater Reservoir in Cumbria, constructed by the Manchester Corporation in 1929.

United Utilities owns 184 reservoirs and is responsible for the provision and maintenance of water supply in the region.^[14] Some reservoirs operated by the company are outside the North West such as the Longdendale Chain in Derbyshire which were constructed by the Manchester Corporation in the 19th century and remain networked to the North West's water supply.

Cumbria[link]

• Haweswater Reservoir
• Thirlmere

Cheshire[link]

• Lamaload Reservoir
• Macclesfield Forest

Derbyshire[link]

• Longdendale Chain
  • Woodhead Reservoir^[15]
  • Torside Reservoir
  • Rhodeswood Reservoir
  • Valehouse Reservoir
  • Bottoms Reservoir
  • Arnfield Reservoir
• Hurst Reservoir
• Bottoms Reservoir^[16]

Greater Manchester[link]

• Bolton:
  • Belmont Reservoir
  • High Rid Reservoir
  • Rumworth Lodge Reservoir
  • Ward's Reservoir
• Manchester:
  • Gorton Reservoirs
  • Heaton Park Reservoir
  • Manchester, Bolton and Bury Reservoir
• Oldham:
  • Ashworth Moor Reservoir
  • Dovestones Reservoir
  • Greenfield Reservoir
  • Strinesdale Reservoir
  • Yeoman Hey Reservoir
• Rochdale:
  • Ashworth Moor Reservoir
  • Blackstone Edge Reservoir
  • Hanging Lees Reservoir
  • Hollingworth Lake
  • Kitcliffe Reservoir
  • Norman Hill Reservoir
  • Ogden Reservoir
  • Piethorne Reservoir
  • Rooden Reservoir
  • Watergrove Reservoir
• Tameside:
  • Audenshaw Reservoirs
  • Godley Reservoir
• Wigan:
  • Worthington Lakes

Lancashire[link]

• The Rivington Chain.^[17]
  • Anglezarke Reservoir
  • Upper Rivington Reservoir
  • Lower Rivington Reservoir
  • Yarrow Reservoir
  • Upper Roddlesworth Reservoir
  • Lower Roddlesworth Reservoir
  • Rake Brook Reservoir
• Clowbridge
• Cowm Reservoir
• Dove Stone Reservoir
• Haslingden Grane
• Watergrove Reservoir
• Wayoh Reservoir

Activities[link]

United Utilities operates water and wastewater networks. In North West England it is investing £3.6 billion between 2010–2015 to meet ever-increasing water quality standards, deliver environmental improvements and make their network more reliable.^[18]

References[link]

External links[link]

Companies portal

• Official website
• Yahoo profile

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