0:00:04 > 0:00:08Getting clean water can be a dirty business...
0:00:08 > 0:00:10Nice!
0:00:10 > 0:00:13Mmm.
0:00:13 > 0:00:17..for the people who run one of Britain's biggest water companies.
0:00:17 > 0:00:22They cover over 5,000 square miles
0:00:22 > 0:00:23and three million homes.
0:00:26 > 0:00:30We follow them through one of the hottest summers on record.
0:00:30 > 0:00:33'I've calmed down and I've counted to ten.'
0:00:33 > 0:00:34Come in. It's lovely and warm.
0:00:34 > 0:00:35Oh, there she goes.
0:00:37 > 0:00:40Just one of them things that happens, unfortunately.
0:00:40 > 0:00:42Into the unknown.
0:00:43 > 0:00:45Do they have men's synchronised swimmers?
0:00:45 > 0:00:47- Are you short-staffed?- No.
0:00:47 > 0:00:51- Beautiful!- It comes out the sea, we get it for nothing,
0:00:51 > 0:00:52so why charge everyone for it?
0:00:54 > 0:00:57A lot of people think they flush their toilet and they forget it - it disappears.
0:00:57 > 0:01:01We're the big hole under everybody's houses where it disappears to.
0:01:01 > 0:01:03You go home in such states, sometimes.
0:01:03 > 0:01:06Last week me wife made me get changed into me underpants.
0:01:06 > 0:01:13- No job's too big or small... - I think I want to come out now, mate. That'll do.
0:01:13 > 0:01:16- ..for the watermen. - Looks like we're going to get wet.
0:01:17 > 0:01:18See you in the morning, Wes.
0:01:18 > 0:01:20Yeah, see you in the morning, mate!
0:01:20 > 0:01:22Just another day in the office!
0:01:35 > 0:01:39Across the North West, the company maintain 40,000 miles of sewers.
0:01:41 > 0:01:44You are kidding me.
0:01:44 > 0:01:47Many were built over 100 years ago.
0:01:47 > 0:01:48We've got more demand.
0:01:48 > 0:01:52Population has actually tripled in er, the last, I don't know,
0:01:52 > 0:01:53100 years or summat.
0:01:53 > 0:01:57So, you know, the network of the sewers, you know, isn't big enough.
0:02:01 > 0:02:05Some of Blackpool's sewers date back to 1890.
0:02:05 > 0:02:07Designed to service 40,000 people,
0:02:07 > 0:02:11today during the summer season, it's more like half a million.
0:02:13 > 0:02:15Waste-water teams like Andy and Terry work
0:02:15 > 0:02:18on 100 square miles of the network.
0:02:18 > 0:02:23I watched a thing on TV - you walk past somebody, you go...
0:02:23 > 0:02:26- HE YAWNS - Within like five seconds,
0:02:26 > 0:02:29someone at the side starts yawning as well. It's well funny.
0:02:40 > 0:02:42- Yeah, mate?- Nothing, mate.
0:02:44 > 0:02:45Go away.
0:02:54 > 0:02:56- Go away!- Proper works!
0:02:56 > 0:02:59- No, it doesn't!- It does. - I was yawning anyway.
0:02:59 > 0:03:02- No, you weren't. - I was yawning anyway.
0:03:02 > 0:03:05Today a pavement has subsided.
0:03:05 > 0:03:09The team are checking if a collapsed sewer is to blame.
0:03:09 > 0:03:11As you can see, there's a dip in the highway there.
0:03:11 > 0:03:14On the footpath.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17- You all right, mate? - I'm sound, me. My mum's 84
0:03:17 > 0:03:20and if she falls down there, it'd be claiming.
0:03:20 > 0:03:22- Yeah.- And it keeps collapsing. - Does it?
0:03:22 > 0:03:24Yeah. So they're not doing their job, are they?
0:03:24 > 0:03:27Yeah, well, have you got access in your back garden
0:03:27 > 0:03:29- we can put a camera down the sewer? - You can.
0:03:29 > 0:03:32Just have a look, make sure there's no issues with the sewer,
0:03:32 > 0:03:35- then we can...- Give us a minute. - ..try and find out why there's a dip in the road.
0:03:35 > 0:03:37Three times they've done that.
0:03:37 > 0:03:38Right, can you open your back door?
0:03:38 > 0:03:41- Oh, yeah, sure.- Looks like they've filled it in a few times,
0:03:41 > 0:03:44but you can see it's... There's a hole right there you can
0:03:44 > 0:03:49put your fingers right through, so looks like it's going already.
0:03:49 > 0:03:51So, er, we'll have a look, see if there's any issues with
0:03:51 > 0:03:54the sewer and then er, go from there, basically.
0:03:56 > 0:03:58Ron's up to his usual tricks, sat down.
0:03:58 > 0:04:02Mate, there's nothing else I can do, apart from making the street
0:04:02 > 0:04:04look pretty, you know what I mean?
0:04:04 > 0:04:06What's all this about, anyway?
0:04:06 > 0:04:09We're here to see if there's anything wrong with the sewer.
0:04:09 > 0:04:11Oh, God.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14The Victorian sewers here are notoriously fragile.
0:04:14 > 0:04:17Basically, er, if you've got a sewer that runs underneath
0:04:17 > 0:04:19and it's partially collapsed,
0:04:19 > 0:04:21or there's an open joint, the water can be washing away,
0:04:21 > 0:04:25washing away the ground, which is causing the ground to just subside.
0:04:25 > 0:04:30So that could be the issue, or it could be another, er, utility issue.
0:04:30 > 0:04:32You never know until we get the camera through.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35- There's nothing wrong...there's nothing...- Go on, Mother - in there.
0:04:35 > 0:04:37Shut up. There's nothing wrong with that drain.
0:04:37 > 0:04:39- He's not...- Not this one. - He's not looking at that!
0:04:39 > 0:04:42All right, all right, all right, keep your knickers on.
0:04:42 > 0:04:43Don't wear knickers!
0:04:49 > 0:04:51- You having fun there?- Yeah, mate.
0:04:51 > 0:04:52Is that a metal detector?
0:04:52 > 0:04:54- Yeah.- Is it?
0:04:54 > 0:04:56- Yeah.- Can we borrow it?
0:04:58 > 0:04:59Just checking for gold.
0:04:59 > 0:05:02Before you start a job, you always check for gold.
0:05:02 > 0:05:05I was just basically, I was just checking for a manhole, you know, just...
0:05:05 > 0:05:07- There's none over there.- Rather than going through the gulley,
0:05:07 > 0:05:10just in case there was a manhole hidden under here.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13There's no good looking for manhole covers over there. There's none there.
0:05:13 > 0:05:15Let these dudes do what they're doing.
0:05:15 > 0:05:16Come on, come in.
0:05:18 > 0:05:22They use the bathroom drainpipe to access the main sewer.
0:05:22 > 0:05:25That's the downpipe to the bathroom.
0:05:25 > 0:05:27Yeah, yeah, that's right, yeah.
0:05:27 > 0:05:29Nothing'll spill once I've finished, I assure you that.
0:05:29 > 0:05:31Just don't flush your chain whilst I'm drilling it.
0:05:31 > 0:05:35- That all right?- If you say so, I suppose. As long as you're not going to make a mess of everything.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38- No, you'll be fine.- Here we go, are we ready? We're off, we're going.
0:05:43 > 0:05:46Right, stop there. Yeah, cos...
0:05:49 > 0:05:52It's dead close to that there, where that void is.
0:05:54 > 0:05:57Got to be an issue there, isn't there?
0:05:57 > 0:05:59The camera shows that part of the sewer has
0:05:59 > 0:06:01caved in near the damaged pavement.
0:06:04 > 0:06:08- Ooh! Put your foot in that.- Nice.
0:06:08 > 0:06:10Don't flush your chain, I said - just while we're down here.
0:06:14 > 0:06:18Andy and Terry will report the collapse for a repair team to fix.
0:06:18 > 0:06:22- Oh, cool.- I am sick of going to the council and getting nowhere.
0:06:22 > 0:06:25Well, at least we're getting somewhere with it today like,
0:06:25 > 0:06:31so someone will come along, a dig gang and they'll dig it up.
0:06:31 > 0:06:32That's all sorted.
0:06:32 > 0:06:33Excellent, excellent.
0:06:39 > 0:06:43Across the region, a labyrinth of reservoirs, many over 100 years old,
0:06:43 > 0:06:46feed into 25,000 miles of water mains.
0:06:48 > 0:06:52Most of them are over 40 years old and are prone to bursts.
0:06:52 > 0:06:55Thank you for calling. You're through to Zoe.
0:06:55 > 0:06:56Can I take your name, please?
0:07:04 > 0:07:06'But we've no hot water, no heating of course.'
0:07:06 > 0:07:09- You've got no water at all?- 'No.'
0:07:09 > 0:07:11You've got to get used to being shouted at.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13Right, I see. OK.
0:07:13 > 0:07:15If they're screaming, if they're ranting, if they're swearing,
0:07:15 > 0:07:18- I let them. - 'It is a trip hazard, definitely,
0:07:18 > 0:07:22'especially with the old lady who's broken her leg next door.'
0:07:22 > 0:07:25Some of them would like to have your head on a plate.
0:07:25 > 0:07:28'I went up with a bucket. I was worried to death.'
0:07:28 > 0:07:30How has it been damaged?
0:07:30 > 0:07:32'I honestly do not know.'
0:07:32 > 0:07:35It's the job that you do. It's what I signed up for.
0:07:35 > 0:07:37And I wouldn't change it for anything.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43Lamaload Reservoir in the Peak District
0:07:43 > 0:07:46supplies water for up to 9,000 properties in Cheshire.
0:07:48 > 0:07:52In Kerridge, one stretch of mains pipes keeps on bursting,
0:07:52 > 0:07:55leaving 2,000 properties without water.
0:07:55 > 0:07:59Network inspector Mark Sutton is in charge of the repair.
0:07:59 > 0:08:01We've had a burst reported.
0:08:01 > 0:08:03It's just the ground itself moving - the ground, age,
0:08:03 > 0:08:08demand on the system, you know, demand coming on, coming off.
0:08:08 > 0:08:12Just one of them things that happens, unfortunately.
0:08:12 > 0:08:13So how you want to do it?
0:08:13 > 0:08:15It's one, two... so we'll have three joints?
0:08:15 > 0:08:17- Four.- Four, right. Let's go for it.
0:08:17 > 0:08:19- Yeah?- Yeah.
0:08:19 > 0:08:23It's from the 1970s, this stuff, so it's now having its drawbacks
0:08:23 > 0:08:26with being dated and it's become brittle under age.
0:08:26 > 0:08:30It's 40-year-old now, so it does have its effect now.
0:08:32 > 0:08:35It's the fourth time this year that the village has been without water.
0:08:35 > 0:08:40- Well, I want to know when we're going to have some water.- Yeah.
0:08:40 > 0:08:44Unfortunately, it's the main flue again when we repaired it this morning.
0:08:44 > 0:08:46It's been an ongoing problem.
0:08:46 > 0:08:50We have had this situation occurring for the last few years
0:08:50 > 0:08:55with the water pipes bursting and no-one tells us anything.
0:08:55 > 0:08:58We're just left to find out that there's no water.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01This particular leak arrived ten days ago.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04I reported it a week last Monday and it was a small trickle,
0:09:04 > 0:09:09and I said, you know, "There's a problem", and nothing happened.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12And then if you talk to people at Endon Hall, which is
0:09:12 > 0:09:14over there, you know, last night they were really furious
0:09:14 > 0:09:17because it's happening too often, and it's just not...
0:09:17 > 0:09:19and I don't know what Bollington and Tytherington are doing
0:09:19 > 0:09:22because they're the ones that suffer with the loss of water.
0:09:29 > 0:09:30PHONE RINGS
0:09:30 > 0:09:32Hello, Lindsay Howard.
0:09:32 > 0:09:36For some, no water means no business.
0:09:36 > 0:09:37Yeah.
0:09:37 > 0:09:40Well, as you can see the salon's empty.
0:09:40 > 0:09:44We've lost probably two hours' business.
0:09:44 > 0:09:45Which is quite a lot, really.
0:09:52 > 0:09:54Whilst some local businesses struggle,
0:09:54 > 0:09:57this launderette reaps the benefit.
0:09:58 > 0:10:04The water shortage means residents can't use their own washing machines.
0:10:04 > 0:10:07As they have their own large water tank, they can carry on trading.
0:10:07 > 0:10:12We've had a lot of phone calls this morning saying are we open, have we got water?
0:10:12 > 0:10:15It's not until you haven't got something that you really miss it.
0:10:15 > 0:10:17And I think most people with a family have their washing
0:10:17 > 0:10:20machines on maybe once or twice a day.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23And we do a lot of service washes for people.
0:10:23 > 0:10:27It has actually been a positive thing out of a negative thing,
0:10:27 > 0:10:30which is quite unusual, so that's a plus.
0:10:30 > 0:10:34But unfortunately, there's a lot of other people who will be suffering.
0:10:37 > 0:10:39We've got a bit of a trickle here.
0:10:39 > 0:10:44Yes, I think we'd struggle to shampoo with that little trickle.
0:10:44 > 0:10:47Yeah, I mean we've got a trickle at the minute so they are planning
0:10:47 > 0:10:51on turning that on in an hour, and that was probably about an hour ago.
0:10:51 > 0:10:54OK, then. Right, bye.
0:10:54 > 0:10:58- Is she going to come in? - She said if there's a trickle, she's not having it done.
0:10:58 > 0:11:00OK. Oh, dear. Well, what can we do?
0:11:01 > 0:11:05Well, a hairdressing salon just couldn't function without water.
0:11:05 > 0:11:06Like a pub with no beer.
0:11:10 > 0:11:1312m of old, brittle PVC pipe needs replacing with
0:11:13 > 0:11:17the more durable polyethylene, but it's going to take some time.
0:11:18 > 0:11:20Four to five hours, top of me head.
0:11:20 > 0:11:23But depending, with the weather as it's been, it's been a bit slow,
0:11:23 > 0:11:26but it seems to have cleared up a bit so me and the lads can crack on.
0:11:26 > 0:11:28The main thrust of it, we've got to get the water back on now.
0:11:37 > 0:11:41John Butcher is the company's regional water supplies manager.
0:11:41 > 0:11:43Hah! Pipes!
0:11:43 > 0:11:46For the last 14 years, he's been planning the most
0:11:46 > 0:11:49ambitious project of his career -
0:11:49 > 0:11:52the inspection of the Haweswater Aqueduct,
0:11:52 > 0:11:54a vast pipeline which runs 120
0:11:54 > 0:11:58kilometres from the Haweswater Reservoir to Manchester.
0:12:02 > 0:12:0560 years, this has given absolute sterling service to us
0:12:05 > 0:12:09but the time has come now, we need a bit of an MOT on it.
0:12:09 > 0:12:11We've had one or two plays at it over the years
0:12:11 > 0:12:15but we now need to be brave enough to stop the flow
0:12:15 > 0:12:19and empty the whole aqueduct, so we can get inside and have a look.
0:12:19 > 0:12:23It is amazing when you think it gets all the way down to Manchester
0:12:23 > 0:12:28from the Lake District and it's all done by gravity, so it's dead
0:12:28 > 0:12:32environmentally friendly - there's no pumping, no carbon footprints.
0:12:32 > 0:12:36I mean, this one here now, is carrying 100 megalitres a day.
0:12:36 > 0:12:39That's 100,000 tonnes of water.
0:12:39 > 0:12:42And yet, you can't hear a thing,
0:12:42 > 0:12:44cos it's all moving in a nice, controlled way.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47Er, but after 60 years,
0:12:47 > 0:12:50let's get inside and have a look, see what sort of condition it's in.
0:12:52 > 0:12:54Two million people rely on the aqueduct.
0:12:56 > 0:12:59During the inspection, the pipe will be shut down
0:12:59 > 0:13:01and a series of smaller reservoirs will take over.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06This means the water supply will be limited to two weeks.
0:13:08 > 0:13:10If the inspection runs over schedule,
0:13:10 > 0:13:12Manchester could run out of water.
0:13:14 > 0:13:17Minute I give them the keys to say, "There you go, guys",
0:13:17 > 0:13:19the clock's ticking.
0:13:19 > 0:13:22And two weeks later, I've got to have that aqueduct back,
0:13:22 > 0:13:25else we're going to be starting to get ourselves in some problems
0:13:25 > 0:13:27with the alternative supplies, you know.
0:13:27 > 0:13:31The Haweswater's our biggest reservoir by far, so if we're not
0:13:31 > 0:13:35getting the water from Haweswater, it's coming from a much smaller one.
0:13:35 > 0:13:38Now we'll be leaning very heavily on these much smaller
0:13:38 > 0:13:42reservoirs and the last thing we want them to do is run out of water.
0:13:42 > 0:13:44So, two weeks is all they've got.
0:13:52 > 0:13:56We're at the training facility. This is our sort of NASA training
0:13:56 > 0:13:58camp for our what we call aquanauts,
0:13:58 > 0:14:01that are going to be going inside the er, the aqueduct itself.
0:14:01 > 0:14:03It means the lads can get an exposure to exactly
0:14:03 > 0:14:05all the sort of safe systems we'll be employing,
0:14:05 > 0:14:09and actually taste the environment, if you like, that they'll be in.
0:14:09 > 0:14:12We're going to do a collapse drill, or potential collapse drill.
0:14:12 > 0:14:17Working closely with John Butcher is construction manager John Dawson.
0:14:17 > 0:14:21- We're training 120 people for going in the tunnel.- Yeah.
0:14:21 > 0:14:26And we're training in total - so they'll be another 280 people
0:14:26 > 0:14:28we're training for above-ground duties.
0:14:28 > 0:14:32To recreate the conditions, they've built a mock tunnel.
0:14:33 > 0:14:39As you can see, it's a fair diameter - 2.6m in diameter.
0:14:39 > 0:14:44I'm six foot four, and I can't touch the top edges.
0:14:44 > 0:14:47You lose all sense, especially when it's dark,
0:14:47 > 0:14:50you'll lose all sense of what's vertical, what's horizontal.
0:14:50 > 0:14:53We may well have up to a foot of water in the bottom.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56It could be quite a spooky place to be.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59I have a recurring nightmare that I'm in that tunnel,
0:14:59 > 0:15:03and I suddenly hear running water behind me.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06And that is my big fear.
0:15:06 > 0:15:11My whole job, my whole work ethos, is to make sure that everybody
0:15:11 > 0:15:15comes home safe and that I've done absolutely everything possible
0:15:15 > 0:15:19to make sure that everybody goes in comes back out.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23Well, the fellas that made this nearly 60 years ago -
0:15:23 > 0:15:24hats off to them.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27I mean, you look at the archive footage of them
0:15:27 > 0:15:30building it, you know - there's no hard hats, there's no safety.
0:15:30 > 0:15:32They've all got flat caps and they're all smoking
0:15:32 > 0:15:35cigarettes in a potentially explosive atmosphere.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38And as for the engineering feat, to get a 1/3,000 gradient
0:15:38 > 0:15:41between Kendal and Bury, without lasers,
0:15:41 > 0:15:45without GPS and satellites, is a real feat of engineering.
0:15:46 > 0:15:48Take your hats of to these people
0:15:48 > 0:15:52and they did it in all sorts of weather, limited materials,
0:15:52 > 0:15:54limited equipment - absolutely amazing.
0:16:04 > 0:16:06We feel like explorers, like we're going to a new land -
0:16:06 > 0:16:08into the unknown.
0:16:24 > 0:16:26Just punched me in the head!
0:16:28 > 0:16:31The mock tunnel is 130m long.
0:16:31 > 0:16:36This team will be inspecting 60km of the real tunnel.
0:16:36 > 0:16:37Slow down.
0:16:38 > 0:16:41They will use this airport buggy to transport them.
0:16:41 > 0:16:44We sort of trawled the world as to the best vehicle you want,
0:16:44 > 0:16:46and we started off with those little mobility scooters.
0:16:46 > 0:16:49You know, you think, "Right, well, surely they'll go",
0:16:49 > 0:16:52but they don't have the distance. Then you look at milk float technology -
0:16:52 > 0:16:54it's not quite as robust as we need.
0:16:54 > 0:16:57These things are going to be in quite a hostile environment.
0:16:57 > 0:16:58- Clear?- Clear.
0:16:59 > 0:17:02They've actually come all the way from Canada.
0:17:02 > 0:17:04They're used in airports for baggage handling.
0:17:04 > 0:17:06They've proved absolutely fantastic.
0:17:06 > 0:17:09We know they're robust, they're reliable,
0:17:09 > 0:17:12and they really are just what we need for the job.
0:17:12 > 0:17:15No, no, you need to start... right, start your turn now,
0:17:15 > 0:17:19- start your turn, start your turn, keep...- Ooh, whey!- Foot down.
0:17:24 > 0:17:25Fucking wrong!
0:17:28 > 0:17:30It's going to take a lot of practice.
0:17:30 > 0:17:34Practice? 12 men's lives in their hands.
0:17:34 > 0:17:36You only going to be driving it.
0:17:36 > 0:17:37Just take it as you go past.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40I think you've got to do it pretty sharpish.
0:17:42 > 0:17:44I class myself as a good driver.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47I've got me HGV Class 1, believe it or not,
0:17:47 > 0:17:49and er, no, it's very difficult.
0:17:52 > 0:17:53Run for your lives, boys!
0:17:55 > 0:17:57And what's great with places like this,
0:17:57 > 0:18:00things are occurring that we'd never even thought of.
0:18:00 > 0:18:01So it's throwing up the problems
0:18:01 > 0:18:04we can address in a nice safe environment as opposed to
0:18:04 > 0:18:09when we're under pressure, we've got two weeks, and that's it, you know.
0:18:09 > 0:18:12So it's proving to be a fantastic training facility.
0:18:12 > 0:18:14- We've learnt something new, haven't we, today?- Yeah.
0:18:14 > 0:18:17If there's any sharp corners, we're buggered, aren't we?
0:18:23 > 0:18:27In Kerridge, the burst water main has still not been fixed.
0:18:27 > 0:18:29Can't do anything, you can't go and do the gardening,
0:18:29 > 0:18:30can't go to the loo.
0:18:32 > 0:18:34That's pretty bad.
0:18:34 > 0:18:36If it went on for any length of time,
0:18:36 > 0:18:39that'd be the biggest thing I'd worry about, so...
0:18:39 > 0:18:43The company have sent in the water-on-wheels team to supply water
0:18:43 > 0:18:45while the main is repaired.
0:18:45 > 0:18:47And we're like the alternative supplies.
0:18:47 > 0:18:50And when they have a burst, they call us out with the tanker
0:18:50 > 0:18:54to come and pump into the main and we act like a movable reservoir.
0:18:54 > 0:18:57We just pump up water in wherever they need it to keep people's
0:18:57 > 0:19:01homes on water so they don't... there's no disruption to supply.
0:19:01 > 0:19:03Er, it's good, it's quick, you get there,
0:19:03 > 0:19:06you've got 30,000 litres you can put straight into the system,
0:19:06 > 0:19:09er, keep it going while you carry on doing your repairs.
0:19:09 > 0:19:12Cos in the day, all you did was turn them off, and left them
0:19:12 > 0:19:16to it, but now you know, we've got to be a bit better than that now.
0:19:20 > 0:19:22Hi, Lindsay Howard.
0:19:22 > 0:19:25It does look like it's back on full power now.
0:19:25 > 0:19:28It's caused us so much worry, though, this last two hours.
0:19:28 > 0:19:31We had no water but it's come back on now.
0:19:37 > 0:19:44After six hours, the village is finally reconnected to the mains.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47Have you been given instructions to make it good?
0:19:47 > 0:19:48I'm getting them now, aren't I!
0:19:48 > 0:19:51Or is it Alfie I've got to speak to?
0:19:51 > 0:19:56The man just sort of said, "Well, we're just replacing the bits that go as they go,"
0:19:56 > 0:19:57but this has happened now.
0:19:57 > 0:20:00There'll be another one in about six weeks, I'm sure.
0:20:02 > 0:20:04It's stronger pipe. It's newer.
0:20:04 > 0:20:07It's been out since the '80s-'90s, we used that, and still use it today,
0:20:07 > 0:20:10but fortunately, when we're piecing through now,
0:20:10 > 0:20:13we're back to iron - back to metal, so we're back to there again.
0:20:13 > 0:20:17It needs new pipe putting in, needs a bit of investment, this pipe.
0:20:17 > 0:20:19Coming from the reservoir down to this point here.
0:20:19 > 0:20:21It'll be loaded, all this - which is
0:20:21 > 0:20:24unnecessary - it will be loaded onto the bills, you know.
0:20:24 > 0:20:28The money's got to come from somewhere and I just thought
0:20:28 > 0:20:29if they were slightly more efficient...
0:20:29 > 0:20:31I don't think anyone really cares.
0:20:31 > 0:20:34There's no-one who's actually got their finger on the pulse.
0:20:34 > 0:20:36It's all money, you know. It's like what they can do
0:20:36 > 0:20:37and what they can get.
0:20:46 > 0:20:47Poo is what we do!
0:20:49 > 0:20:53Waste-water team Andy and Terry are heading back into Blackpool.
0:20:53 > 0:20:56Give us one of your favourite songs, Terry.
0:20:56 > 0:20:59- What do you mean? - I like it when you sing.
0:21:00 > 0:21:04- # Driving along in my automobile...# - That's the one.
0:21:05 > 0:21:09Neighbours have complained about a possible blocked sewer.
0:21:09 > 0:21:11Just grab me skin, mate.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15- Hi.- All right, how's it going? - I'm fine.
0:21:15 > 0:21:17- Yeah.- Hi, you all right? - You phoned in a blockage.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20- Is it just round the side here, is it?- It's round the back, there's a manhole.
0:21:20 > 0:21:24- Is it?- Right, just in the back garden.- Yeah.- And that's filling up. It's blocked.
0:21:24 > 0:21:26Is it all right if we go round and look?
0:21:26 > 0:21:30Yeah. My boyfriend said it's going underneath to next door as well so we've got garage keys.
0:21:30 > 0:21:34- It moves next door that way, does it? - Yeah.- All right, then.- We've got some keys.- No problem.- All right.
0:21:34 > 0:21:40- Give us those keys.- OK. The manhole was blocked. The builders lifted the lid up
0:21:40 > 0:21:43and saw it and it started to smell and it was full with water.
0:21:46 > 0:21:49Bit pongy. Wasn't every nice!
0:21:49 > 0:21:52Some of the sewers here are 120 years old
0:21:52 > 0:21:56and prone to collapses, as well as debris collecting.
0:21:56 > 0:21:57Just stir the soup up.
0:21:59 > 0:22:03This weather and this smell makes your job worthwhile.
0:22:03 > 0:22:05We'll go next door, we'll check that. We'll check next door.
0:22:05 > 0:22:07Got the keys from next door.
0:22:10 > 0:22:12Do it with your knees, not your back.
0:22:12 > 0:22:13Oh, there you go.
0:22:13 > 0:22:16Four inch plunger - smell the aroma.
0:22:16 > 0:22:19Yes, she's a pungent little one today.
0:22:21 > 0:22:23Oh, I think she's just here, though.
0:22:23 > 0:22:24In the trap? You in?
0:22:26 > 0:22:28Oh, there she goes!
0:22:28 > 0:22:29Oh, yeah!
0:22:29 > 0:22:31Pump me!
0:22:31 > 0:22:35- Hello.- Lower, lower. keep going, keep going, baby!
0:22:35 > 0:22:36That's a big cistern, that.
0:22:38 > 0:22:42The sound of glory. It's on a trap, mate.
0:22:50 > 0:22:52Smells like victory.
0:22:52 > 0:22:53Splish!
0:22:56 > 0:22:58This is where it gets a bit worse now,
0:22:58 > 0:23:02cos it's had a chance to clear and stuff.
0:23:02 > 0:23:03That way, mate.
0:23:08 > 0:23:10That's a reet one, that one.
0:23:10 > 0:23:14Ah, it's strong that one, actually. It's making my eyes water.
0:23:14 > 0:23:18You know what? When we first cleared that, didn't smell so bad.
0:23:18 > 0:23:21Stinks now. Stick one in through the new.
0:23:23 > 0:23:26Yeah, there's the main, so it's flowing fine, so...
0:23:26 > 0:23:27Job's a good 'un.
0:23:30 > 0:23:33This time, there is no sign of collapse.
0:23:33 > 0:23:35- We're all done now. - Brilliant, thank you.
0:23:35 > 0:23:37Just, I think it was just a soft blockage
0:23:37 > 0:23:39in the manhole next door so,
0:23:39 > 0:23:43we got the manhole off and got it all returned to flow now so...
0:23:43 > 0:23:45- That's great.- That should be it.
0:23:45 > 0:23:48We've camera-ed it as well, we've found no issues with the line,
0:23:48 > 0:23:50so hopefully it's just a one time thing I think.
0:23:50 > 0:23:53- And yeah, that's us done now. - That's great.
0:23:53 > 0:23:57- And on to the next one. All right, thank you very much. - Thank you very much.- Cheers now.
0:23:57 > 0:23:58- Bye-bye.- Thank you.
0:23:59 > 0:24:01That was a pongy job, that.
0:24:04 > 0:24:06On their way to their next call out,
0:24:06 > 0:24:09they check on the collapsed sewer from an earlier job.
0:24:09 > 0:24:11Aw, definitely.
0:24:15 > 0:24:17That's gorgeous that, mate.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20There was a defect here in the line when we came last time.
0:24:20 > 0:24:24It's obviously been dug and, er, the issue's been resolved.
0:24:24 > 0:24:27Job's a good 'un. You happy, mate, with that?
0:24:27 > 0:24:29Yeah, over the moon.
0:24:29 > 0:24:30THEY LAUGH
0:24:30 > 0:24:32- Good 'un, sorted.- Excellent.
0:24:32 > 0:24:34Sorted, we'll put it int' notes.
0:24:40 > 0:24:43Before the Haweswater Aqueduct can be inspected, John Butcher
0:24:43 > 0:24:46needs to get the final part of the budget signed off.
0:24:47 > 0:24:49This is it, this is D-Day.
0:24:50 > 0:24:52The problem is that we're running out of time.
0:24:52 > 0:24:55We're committed to this window of October.
0:24:55 > 0:24:57So it's absolutely crucial that we come out of there with
0:24:57 > 0:25:01a smile on our face, that we've been given the sanction.
0:25:01 > 0:25:04So, that's how important it is to us.
0:25:04 > 0:25:06Well it's the amount of work we've done upfront.
0:25:06 > 0:25:08If we were just arriving unprepared,
0:25:08 > 0:25:10we'd be deserved to be kicked all round the park and I'd deserve
0:25:10 > 0:25:14to be feeling a bit nervous, but we can't do any more than we've done.
0:25:14 > 0:25:17So it's as good as that, it's up to
0:25:17 > 0:25:20the directors and senior managers of the business to
0:25:20 > 0:25:22show their confidence in us.
0:25:22 > 0:25:23Exciting times.
0:25:23 > 0:25:27Given that everybody's disappeared, I think that's a sign that we've got to go.
0:25:27 > 0:25:28I think we need to be in.
0:25:28 > 0:25:30- That's right. I should have put a tie on!- Good luck.
0:25:30 > 0:25:32OK, thanks, guys.
0:25:40 > 0:25:42Digger ready in a bit.
0:25:42 > 0:25:45Woodgate Hill Water Treatment works in Bury.
0:25:47 > 0:25:51John Dawson and the team start work on reinforcing the aqueduct
0:25:51 > 0:25:52with concrete.
0:25:53 > 0:25:57This will be one of 22 entry points for the buggies along
0:25:57 > 0:26:00the 60-kilometre stretch of the aqueduct they're going to inspect.
0:26:03 > 0:26:06We've excavated down on to the crown of the aqueduct.
0:26:06 > 0:26:09It's a pipe, and what you can see here
0:26:09 > 0:26:11is the top of that pipe, effectively.
0:26:11 > 0:26:14What the lads are stood on now is the bit that we're going to
0:26:14 > 0:26:16cut out, so we can get our vehicle in.
0:26:18 > 0:26:21The main thing today is to get that concrete placed over those
0:26:21 > 0:26:24steel cages, and that's one job ticked off the list
0:26:24 > 0:26:27of hundreds that we've got to get done.
0:26:30 > 0:26:31Gas leak.
0:26:31 > 0:26:37ALARM BEEPS
0:26:37 > 0:26:40Down to the bottom, guys. Down to the bottom, go.
0:26:40 > 0:26:42Get yourselves off site.
0:26:42 > 0:26:46We'll go down, we'll go down to the first one. I've got a phone for help so...
0:26:57 > 0:27:00There's been a leak, which is why everyone's been evacuated,
0:27:00 > 0:27:04and I'm waiting for assistance to go in and check before we let people in to make sure everything's OK.
0:27:06 > 0:27:09The leak has come from the chlorine store.
0:27:09 > 0:27:13Chlorine gas is exactly the same as mustard gas.
0:27:13 > 0:27:16It's what they used in the First World War in the trenches.
0:27:16 > 0:27:18And it gets into your lungs and it dissolves your lungs.
0:27:18 > 0:27:21Reacts with water, so you have moisture in your mouth,
0:27:21 > 0:27:24and your lungs, and your throat, and it turns it into acid.
0:27:24 > 0:27:27And that acid, well, acid's never good
0:27:27 > 0:27:30if it's in your lungs, your throat, or your mouth.
0:27:30 > 0:27:32But it is fatal, it's absolutely fatal.
0:27:34 > 0:27:38The problem is they're one skip load short of pouring this ring beam.
0:27:38 > 0:27:40Cos Sharon's on her own she can't deal with it,
0:27:40 > 0:27:45she's been told she's got to wait three quarters of an hour for somebody to come and help her.
0:27:45 > 0:27:47Before they cut into the aqueduct,
0:27:47 > 0:27:50they need a strong, load-bearing wall.
0:27:50 > 0:27:53The concrete needs to be compacted to get rid of any
0:27:53 > 0:27:55air pockets before it sets.
0:27:55 > 0:27:59If this doesn't happen, it could be too weak for the job.
0:27:59 > 0:28:02If that concrete goes off, I'll be honest with you,
0:28:02 > 0:28:03we're absolutely screwed.
0:28:05 > 0:28:07All that concrete, which is a critical path item,
0:28:07 > 0:28:10would have to be jiggered out, and we'd have to start again.
0:28:12 > 0:28:15Haven't even got me bloody sandwiches with me.
0:28:19 > 0:28:22At HQ, it's alarm bells for John Butcher as well.
0:28:22 > 0:28:27ALARM BELL RINGS
0:28:30 > 0:28:32Well, you couldn't make it up, could you?
0:28:32 > 0:28:34Probably the most important day in our life...
0:28:36 > 0:28:40..before we get the signature on the cheque,
0:28:40 > 0:28:42so it's the way it goes, isn't it?
0:28:42 > 0:28:45So, they've got a bit more time to think about it now which is
0:28:45 > 0:28:49our problem, we got a bit of momentum going there in our direction we thought,
0:28:49 > 0:28:52so we'll have to get back in and start all over again.
0:28:57 > 0:28:58Here we go, wish me luck.
0:29:03 > 0:29:05Right, you stay here please.
0:29:08 > 0:29:11It takes 45 minutes before assistance arrives.
0:29:14 > 0:29:15MOBILE PHONE RINGS
0:29:15 > 0:29:18Hello.
0:29:18 > 0:29:19Wonderful.
0:29:29 > 0:29:31The concrete is beginning to set.
0:29:35 > 0:29:38They'll go absolute hell-for-leather with it.
0:29:39 > 0:29:42So we've just got to keep our fingers crossed now that this
0:29:42 > 0:29:45concrete is right and that the disaster has been averted.
0:29:48 > 0:29:50But I must admit earlier I BLEEP a brick.
0:29:58 > 0:29:59What a day it's been.
0:30:04 > 0:30:06I think we saved it,
0:30:06 > 0:30:09but the proof will be in seven days
0:30:09 > 0:30:11when we test the concrete.
0:30:11 > 0:30:15Er, from what the lads have told me I think we just about did it,
0:30:15 > 0:30:18but, by God, by the skin of our teeth.
0:30:18 > 0:30:21I, er, I don't want any more of them before we go in.
0:30:28 > 0:30:31John Butcher is finally out of the boardroom.
0:30:31 > 0:30:32We've got the funding we need.
0:30:32 > 0:30:34So, it wasn't automatic, you know, er,
0:30:34 > 0:30:38fire alarm going off right in the middle of
0:30:38 > 0:30:40Paul's presentation, um,
0:30:40 > 0:30:41probably didn't help.
0:30:41 > 0:30:45Well, it must have helped because we got the money at the end of the day.
0:30:45 > 0:30:47Gives us a bit of a breather and time to rethink,
0:30:47 > 0:30:51get the story much clearer as well so it was good.
0:30:51 > 0:30:53At the end of the day it's a big hurdle
0:30:53 > 0:30:57out of the way for us, so it's all getting a bit scary now because
0:30:57 > 0:31:01we're actually running out of excuses why we can't do this outage.
0:31:01 > 0:31:04So, er, what's the one that's left? Oh, yes, it's the weather.
0:31:08 > 0:31:11Each year, the company spends over £70 million
0:31:11 > 0:31:12replacing old water mains.
0:31:12 > 0:31:16- The water pressure's very low.- There isn't any water coming through.
0:31:16 > 0:31:19OK, let me check to see if there's anything available tomorrow.
0:31:19 > 0:31:22That's what happens when you're open 365 days,
0:31:22 > 0:31:2424 hours a day, seven days a week.
0:31:24 > 0:31:26How many days in a year?
0:31:26 > 0:31:27365.
0:31:27 > 0:31:28Didn't know that.
0:31:28 > 0:31:31You didn't know there was 365 days in a year?
0:31:31 > 0:31:34Vick, I still struggle with a 24-hour clock.
0:31:34 > 0:31:36- That's worrying.- I do it on me fingers.
0:31:36 > 0:31:38- How old are you, 28?- Yeah, I'm 28.
0:31:38 > 0:31:42What are you going to do when you have kids, how are you going to teach them?
0:31:42 > 0:31:43The dad can do that.
0:31:43 > 0:31:45THEY LAUGH
0:31:45 > 0:31:48What I would advise is to maybe store some water in your kettle.
0:31:48 > 0:31:50The water is very discoloured.
0:31:50 > 0:31:51Oh, I am sorry.
0:31:51 > 0:31:54Just so you can at least, make yourself a brew.
0:31:59 > 0:32:03In Ashford Road, Preston, residents wake up to no water.
0:32:03 > 0:32:05It were like a river,
0:32:05 > 0:32:07just coming out of the pavement,
0:32:07 > 0:32:09like a waterfall really.
0:32:12 > 0:32:14Paul Wilding and his team get to work.
0:32:16 > 0:32:19Basically, I've isolated two valves, another line valve,
0:32:19 > 0:32:24to basically restore water supply to the other properties that were affected up there.
0:32:24 > 0:32:26So basically, we've got about 28 properties without water now.
0:32:28 > 0:32:31Everybody's, from right down there to the end of the road,
0:32:31 > 0:32:33everybody has no water.
0:32:33 > 0:32:37Go to the bathroom, and then all of a sudden your mum shouts "There's no water!"
0:32:37 > 0:32:40And then it just kind of delays your morning a little bit.
0:32:41 > 0:32:44Earlier it was just like this river flowing down the drive,
0:32:44 > 0:32:48and obviously it's gone under the driveway, into the house, through
0:32:48 > 0:32:52the brickwork and there were about nine inch of water in the basement.
0:32:52 > 0:32:56It's soaking away now, it's going, but it's made a mess.
0:32:56 > 0:32:58There was a lot of stuff down there,
0:32:58 > 0:33:01and a lot of it's got wet, it'll have to be chucked away.
0:33:01 > 0:33:04- It's all dry now.- Yes, look at it, it's all soaked away,
0:33:04 > 0:33:06don't know where it's soaked away to.
0:33:06 > 0:33:09- Have you got any little drains down here or anything?- No.
0:33:09 > 0:33:12No little drain, all right, corners are out.
0:33:12 > 0:33:16Yeah, I'm more concerned about under the drive,
0:33:16 > 0:33:19the fact that it's actually got up to house wall, you know.
0:33:19 > 0:33:22- Right.- To that extent that it's pushed it through.
0:33:22 > 0:33:26Right. Like I say they'll assess all that and go through it with you.
0:33:26 > 0:33:27Yeah.
0:33:28 > 0:33:30Not a problem.
0:33:30 > 0:33:33He's got some flooding water that's gone into the basement, can see it trickling in.
0:33:33 > 0:33:36He's got a few items down there so I've took some pictures
0:33:36 > 0:33:39and the insurance will come out to assess it and see what's what.
0:33:41 > 0:33:44Do you use your hosepipe much for the garden or do you use a watering can?
0:33:44 > 0:33:47You use a lot of water with a hose.
0:33:47 > 0:33:48No, I use a watering can,
0:33:48 > 0:33:51- as I say I've got two water butts at front of the greenhouse.- Right.
0:33:51 > 0:33:55So I tend to just top them up and then just fill up out of that.
0:33:56 > 0:33:59It's the tomatoes mainly, but I have enough to last.
0:33:59 > 0:34:01Yeah, that's not a problem.
0:34:01 > 0:34:04Looks like the main's deteriorated slightly there
0:34:04 > 0:34:08and it's blown a hole inside the main, like a weakness point.
0:34:08 > 0:34:11So it's blown that little hole inside, that's what's caused the burst.
0:34:11 > 0:34:13They seal the hole
0:34:13 > 0:34:16and use a device called a split collar to reinforce it.
0:34:18 > 0:34:20- Is your water back on now, mate? - Not tried it.
0:34:20 > 0:34:23Yeah, should be back on now.
0:34:23 > 0:34:25I'll have a look.
0:34:25 > 0:34:27Get these plants watered if you want.
0:34:27 > 0:34:28HE LAUGHS
0:34:31 > 0:34:33Lovely. Yeah, all sorted.
0:34:33 > 0:34:36- No worries, thank you very much. - Lovely, cheers for that.
0:34:36 > 0:34:39Everyone's back on. Customers are happy.
0:34:39 > 0:34:40Job's a good 'un.
0:34:40 > 0:34:42Happy days for the captain.
0:34:42 > 0:34:44HE LAUGHS
0:34:51 > 0:34:54What we'll do is, we'll go over the filter block
0:34:54 > 0:34:56and enjoy the view on the way.
0:34:56 > 0:34:58I remember my way round now.
0:34:59 > 0:35:03Now, if this pass doesn't work, it's a sign...
0:35:03 > 0:35:05that we can't proceed.
0:35:09 > 0:35:12OK, we're in. Can't use that as an excuse.
0:35:13 > 0:35:15With the funds in place,
0:35:15 > 0:35:19John Butcher has the green light to turn off Manchester's water supply.
0:35:19 > 0:35:22The aqueduct's never been shut down, so we are in unchartered
0:35:22 > 0:35:26territory, not just from anybody's operational experience here,
0:35:26 > 0:35:30but from the history of the whole aqueduct itself.
0:35:31 > 0:35:34So this, you know, final cessation of flows is, er,
0:35:34 > 0:35:36quite significant.
0:35:36 > 0:35:39Certainly it's a big highlight of my 25-year career here.
0:35:39 > 0:35:41To think, I never thought when I started I'd be actually
0:35:41 > 0:35:44pushing that button that stops the whole flow to the aqueduct.
0:35:44 > 0:35:45- Valve.- Yeah.
0:35:45 > 0:35:47- Energised, yeah?- OK.
0:35:47 > 0:35:50This is one small step for man.
0:35:50 > 0:35:52Geoff, can I go?
0:35:52 > 0:35:54Right, John.
0:35:54 > 0:35:55Are you sure?
0:35:55 > 0:35:57- It's yours, John.- OK.
0:35:57 > 0:36:01This is just the start of an unknown journey for us
0:36:01 > 0:36:03really, as we go forward now.
0:36:03 > 0:36:06What we're just doing is a little bit of open heart surgery
0:36:06 > 0:36:08on one of our major arteries if you like.
0:36:08 > 0:36:12We've got two weeks now to find out what condition that aqueduct is in.
0:36:16 > 0:36:19From this point, Manchester is now being supplied from other,
0:36:19 > 0:36:23smaller reservoirs, with only enough reserves to last two weeks.
0:36:25 > 0:36:29But the inspection can't start until the tunnel is clear of water
0:36:29 > 0:36:31and this takes three days.
0:36:37 > 0:36:39The first team to go in are on foot.
0:36:40 > 0:36:41Just get it done.
0:36:41 > 0:36:44Get in there, get it done and get out.
0:36:44 > 0:36:46Do you have any traditions?
0:36:46 > 0:36:48Erm, yeah, have a big shit before you go in.
0:36:48 > 0:36:52HE LAUGHS
0:36:53 > 0:36:57Keeping the aqueduct free from contamination is crucial.
0:36:57 > 0:37:01Yeah, we drink off this, yeah we're Manchester based,
0:37:01 > 0:37:03so yeah, it's our water.
0:37:03 > 0:37:06It's in our best interests to make sure it's right.
0:37:09 > 0:37:12Nobody's allowed to go past here in any dirty clothes,
0:37:12 > 0:37:14they all get changed in the clean room here.
0:37:14 > 0:37:17They get changed, and come through chlorous baths
0:37:17 > 0:37:20and everything, so everything's kept spotlessly clean at all times.
0:37:20 > 0:37:22We put the thermal socks on, thermal suit,
0:37:22 > 0:37:25because down there, there's going to be two metres per second
0:37:25 > 0:37:29air flow so it's going to be basically like a wind tunnel.
0:37:29 > 0:37:31Coming down.
0:37:35 > 0:37:39It's been 60 years since anyone set foot in this tunnel.
0:37:39 > 0:37:41Scabby, innit? Look at the sides. Look at that.
0:37:54 > 0:37:57OK, when you're ready, bend over.
0:37:57 > 0:38:00THEY LAUGH
0:38:03 > 0:38:05The team look for signs of wear and tear,
0:38:05 > 0:38:09and samples from the tunnel wall are taken to see how it's holding up.
0:38:09 > 0:38:12Wear in the surface is precedent, and have gone a bit wrong,
0:38:12 > 0:38:16but inside the concrete looks well, looks really good, yeah.
0:38:16 > 0:38:20It's been made to last down here. It's not in bad condition.
0:38:22 > 0:38:28This team will check 12 kilometres of the 120 kilometre long aqueduct.
0:38:28 > 0:38:30Considering when it was done, and they've done it,
0:38:30 > 0:38:32they've pretty much done it all by hand,
0:38:32 > 0:38:35it's in very good condition, considering.
0:38:40 > 0:38:41As far as I understand it,
0:38:41 > 0:38:454,000 Irish fellas took their jackets off,
0:38:45 > 0:38:47rolled their sleeves up, and came up with shovels and picks.
0:38:47 > 0:38:51All these Irishmen, climbing over and climbing into the hole
0:38:51 > 0:38:52and digging.
0:38:52 > 0:38:55We couldn't do today what they did back then. Brave men.
0:38:55 > 0:38:57Brave, clever men.
0:39:05 > 0:39:09Waste water team Adrian and Wes are heading to Rochdale.
0:39:15 > 0:39:17Me mum not answering, Dad?
0:39:17 > 0:39:19HE LAUGHS
0:39:19 > 0:39:21You wish I were your dad.
0:39:21 > 0:39:24- You're old enough to be me dad, aren't you, Ade?- I am, mate, I am.
0:39:24 > 0:39:26Well, there's one thing for sure.
0:39:26 > 0:39:29You'd be better-looking if you were my son.
0:39:32 > 0:39:36An overflowing drain has been reported next to a main road.
0:39:40 > 0:39:42What's happened here then?
0:39:42 > 0:39:45Yes, we've got the waste water flooding on the highway.
0:39:45 > 0:39:48Due to the location of it, we knew it would be somewhere higher up.
0:39:50 > 0:39:53It's just absolutely full of baby wipes.
0:39:56 > 0:39:59Basically, Ade has had a go with the plunger in the manhole.
0:39:59 > 0:40:02It won't go with the plunger, so, er, we're just going to jet it now.
0:40:02 > 0:40:04Jet from this manhole downstream,
0:40:04 > 0:40:08and hopefully we'll clear the blockage. Here y'are, Ade.
0:40:17 > 0:40:19Not coming out more down there, is it?
0:40:23 > 0:40:26It's on a thing called a P-trap, it's a Victorian idea,
0:40:26 > 0:40:29it's meant to stop rats coming back up from the sewer.
0:40:29 > 0:40:32Um...but when they built P-traps
0:40:32 > 0:40:34they didn't have such things as baby wipes
0:40:34 > 0:40:37and fat going down the sink and stuff like that, so....
0:40:39 > 0:40:41That's the modern world we live in.
0:40:43 > 0:40:46It's too tight an angle to camera the sewer from the surface.
0:40:46 > 0:40:50Basically, we can't get the camera in the line.
0:40:50 > 0:40:51Just the angle it is, really,
0:40:51 > 0:40:54so we're going to have to do a man entry.
0:40:54 > 0:40:56So obviously we can't just jump in willy nilly,
0:40:56 > 0:41:00we've got to do it safety-wise, so we need the tripod, the winch,
0:41:00 > 0:41:01the harness, gas detector,
0:41:01 > 0:41:05all that sort of stuff, just for our own safety, really.
0:41:05 > 0:41:07Wes has got the pleasure of going inside the manhole
0:41:07 > 0:41:09so we can get the camera into the outlook.
0:41:09 > 0:41:13Cos it's offset to the chamber, so you can't swing it in
0:41:13 > 0:41:17without actually being inside the manhole itself.
0:41:17 > 0:41:20And to be fair, Wes has been giving me quite a bit of cheek today
0:41:20 > 0:41:23so it's only befitting that he ends up in there.
0:41:23 > 0:41:27Yeah, well, basically this harness might take me a while to sort out,
0:41:27 > 0:41:31cos Ade had it on last, and he's quite a big chap.
0:41:31 > 0:41:33So I might need to adjust the size a while.
0:41:33 > 0:41:35Just bear with me.
0:41:35 > 0:41:38He's only talking about the crotch area, the rest of it'll be fine.
0:41:38 > 0:41:39HE CHUCKLES
0:41:54 > 0:41:55Have you got a crow bar?
0:41:55 > 0:41:59- Why, is it blocked?- There's a bit still in it in this outlet here.
0:41:59 > 0:42:02The bottom bit's clear in the trap, it's just the...
0:42:02 > 0:42:06just the top bit, there's quite a lot of rags and grease in it.
0:42:21 > 0:42:25- D'you want to throw the camera down now, Ade?- Yeah, you ready?
0:42:27 > 0:42:30I'm not, er... I'm not laughing at you here, Wes, I promise.
0:42:30 > 0:42:32Why don't I believe you?
0:42:32 > 0:42:33- You ready?- Yeah.
0:42:37 > 0:42:38Push on...
0:42:39 > 0:42:43A P-trap is like a sharp U-bend.
0:42:43 > 0:42:46Keep flush, if you can. I think you're at main there.
0:42:46 > 0:42:49I think there's just a bit of a soft blockage on the edge.
0:42:49 > 0:42:53- Is there? - See if you can push through.
0:42:54 > 0:42:56Yeah, it's gone through that.
0:42:56 > 0:42:58Yeah, you're on dropping there now, mate.
0:42:58 > 0:43:00Another fine job by Wes and Adey.
0:43:01 > 0:43:03Do you want to stay in there for a bit,
0:43:03 > 0:43:04or d'you want me to get you out?
0:43:04 > 0:43:07No, I think I want to come out now, mate. That'll do.
0:43:10 > 0:43:14Oh, yeah, it stinks, like, obviously. It's not the nicest smell, no.
0:43:14 > 0:43:19But you just get used to it. Just do it, like. Yeah.
0:43:20 > 0:43:21# Wes Odell
0:43:23 > 0:43:26# It's not the sewer It's you that smells! #
0:43:26 > 0:43:28Did you like that?
0:43:28 > 0:43:29I just made that up.
0:43:29 > 0:43:31I like that, mate.
0:43:36 > 0:43:38The buggy team only have two weeks
0:43:38 > 0:43:41to inspect their section of the tunnel.
0:43:42 > 0:43:44You're all right that side, yeah?
0:43:48 > 0:43:50Eight men make up the buggy teams,
0:43:50 > 0:43:53including engineers, repairmen, and two drivers.
0:43:55 > 0:43:56All aboard!
0:43:59 > 0:44:02They'll be underground for a ten-hour shift,
0:44:02 > 0:44:05so they take everything with them, including a mobile loo.
0:44:08 > 0:44:09Heads up.
0:44:09 > 0:44:11Here we go.
0:44:11 > 0:44:13We nearly there yet?
0:44:14 > 0:44:16The tunnel should be dry,
0:44:16 > 0:44:18but pressure from the water table outside
0:44:18 > 0:44:21has broken through the concrete structure.
0:44:21 > 0:44:23Yeah, that, it's a wave, yeah.
0:44:25 > 0:44:29It's a list of defects, you've got cracks, an inactive crack,
0:44:29 > 0:44:31which means it's not leaking,
0:44:31 > 0:44:33an active crack where there's water coming in.
0:44:33 > 0:44:37Think we've got another spurter here in the wall.
0:44:39 > 0:44:43A surface team are on stand-by if anything goes wrong.
0:44:43 > 0:44:47I'm here, top man me, I make sure the lads get in and out safely.
0:44:47 > 0:44:50Every ten minutes they give me a gas reading, I write it down.
0:44:50 > 0:44:52Things like that.
0:44:52 > 0:44:56'That dodgy bit, you know where it starts going?'
0:44:56 > 0:44:59Mark stays in touch with an old-school communications cable.
0:44:59 > 0:45:01If you hear from them, let me know.
0:45:01 > 0:45:04Looks like something off the war films, doesn't it?
0:45:06 > 0:45:07They unravel it as they go along.
0:45:11 > 0:45:12Is everybody OK?
0:45:14 > 0:45:15'Yeah, everybody's fine,'
0:45:15 > 0:45:18we're still feeling a bit down but we're all right.
0:45:18 > 0:45:21OK, mate, thank you very much.
0:45:22 > 0:45:23To stay on schedule,
0:45:23 > 0:45:26the buggy team needs to inspect 15 kilometres a day.
0:45:28 > 0:45:29Fucking hell!
0:45:31 > 0:45:34So this is an escape shaft,
0:45:34 > 0:45:37and it's only in case of a tunnel collapse.
0:45:37 > 0:45:39That's 30 metres up there.
0:45:39 > 0:45:42And we've got two men up there as well
0:45:42 > 0:45:44that are in contact on the comms.
0:45:44 > 0:45:47They're waiting up there in case there's a problem and we bring
0:45:47 > 0:45:51a machine in, we'll lift the lid off and then we start the rescue.
0:45:51 > 0:45:54But hopefully, you won't need that.
0:45:54 > 0:45:57But as you can see, we're a long way underground!
0:46:05 > 0:46:07THEY LAUGH
0:46:09 > 0:46:12- Lunch break. - It's wet, and it's warm.
0:46:14 > 0:46:17And a chance to use the on-board facilities.
0:46:17 > 0:46:20This is the worst bit of the job, them having a pee.
0:46:20 > 0:46:23- I believe you need two screwdrivers. - THEY LAUGH
0:46:29 > 0:46:32That... And that's what you've got.
0:46:35 > 0:46:36It's a good job I'm slim!
0:46:36 > 0:46:39I'll see you in a minute.
0:46:56 > 0:46:59We've ran out of comms cable. The reel's run out.
0:47:01 > 0:47:04Halfway through the shift, the team runs out of communication cable.
0:47:04 > 0:47:07They still have another nine kilometres to inspect.
0:47:07 > 0:47:11Somebody might have needed it on another site, so took it but...
0:47:11 > 0:47:15They reckon it's been nicked, we can't... There's no more up there.
0:47:16 > 0:47:20Not right happy about going up there without comms, are you?
0:47:20 > 0:47:23- We break down, we... - I wouldn't.
0:47:23 > 0:47:26In fact, I'm pulling rank and saying no, we're not going.
0:47:26 > 0:47:28We're right not happy without no comms.
0:47:28 > 0:47:31We're not going without comms. Let's not be silly, lads.
0:47:31 > 0:47:34The inspection is called off.
0:47:34 > 0:47:38That'll have to be it for the day, I'm afraid.
0:47:38 > 0:47:39Which is a crying shame!
0:47:55 > 0:47:59In Manchester, a customer has a major water shortage.
0:48:01 > 0:48:06Service delivery manager John Butler has been sent to help.
0:48:06 > 0:48:07Slightly different...
0:48:07 > 0:48:11Filling swimming pools is not something we do on a regular basis.
0:48:11 > 0:48:14Victoria Baths was closed in 1993
0:48:14 > 0:48:18after almost a century of public service.
0:48:18 > 0:48:21Ten years ago, campaigners saved the building.
0:48:21 > 0:48:25Today, the pool is being filled to mark the anniversary.
0:48:29 > 0:48:32It doesn't look very technical, but it is a very technical job.
0:48:32 > 0:48:34We've got to work out the size of the pool,
0:48:34 > 0:48:40how much water we think it'll take to fill it, what flow rate we need
0:48:40 > 0:48:44to put in so we don't cause problems on the network.
0:48:44 > 0:48:47And then we just drop the hose in and hope for the best.
0:48:50 > 0:48:53Chris and Pete have played a large part in the restoration.
0:48:53 > 0:48:55I've never seen it being filled.
0:48:55 > 0:48:58So after a lot of hard work cleaning it I'm really looking forward to it.
0:48:59 > 0:49:02Right, there you go. OK, it's hooked up.
0:49:08 > 0:49:10We've got about five or six days to, to fill it,
0:49:10 > 0:49:13so we could probably fill it in about two days,
0:49:13 > 0:49:15but there's always a risk of causing discoloured water,
0:49:15 > 0:49:18there's always a risk of flattening the network,
0:49:18 > 0:49:20so we'll just do it at a steady rate.
0:49:20 > 0:49:22So which reservoir has this come from, John?
0:49:22 > 0:49:25- It's come off the Manchester ring main.- Has it? Right.
0:49:25 > 0:49:26So it's like blended water.
0:49:26 > 0:49:28- A lot of it comes from the Lake District.- Yeah, yeah.
0:49:28 > 0:49:30Mixed with the local sources.
0:49:30 > 0:49:32- So it's the best water in the world. - It is, yeah.- Yeah.
0:49:32 > 0:49:35- What time's the first swim? - When it's full, Friday.
0:49:35 > 0:49:38I think we were going to do Thursday, weren't we?
0:49:38 > 0:49:41- Thursday night possibly, yeah. - Thursday night possibly, yeah.
0:49:41 > 0:49:42- You going in?- Oh, yeah.
0:49:43 > 0:49:46It brings it to life as you can see now, you know.
0:49:46 > 0:49:47We've been filling it, what, 20 minutes,
0:49:47 > 0:49:51and you know, we've got ripples in the water, the light et cetera.
0:49:51 > 0:49:53The sound, you know, which of course,
0:49:53 > 0:49:56when the building's empty, it's a very quiet place.
0:49:57 > 0:49:59Yeah, it's strange, it's almost...
0:49:59 > 0:50:02Yeah, the pool is coming to life it feels like,
0:50:02 > 0:50:07after being a tiled place that's not had water in for five years.
0:50:07 > 0:50:10It's almost like it's breathing again really, isn't it?
0:50:10 > 0:50:11It's coming alive.
0:50:14 > 0:50:17If it's overflowing tonight, we've calculated wrong.
0:50:23 > 0:50:29After 14 years of planning, the Haweswater Aqueduct inspection is complete,
0:50:29 > 0:50:32and it's in pretty good shape after 60 years.
0:50:32 > 0:50:36Fresh air's always good when you're out of a confined space.
0:50:36 > 0:50:40Always better up on this side than it is down there.
0:50:40 > 0:50:43It's a relief that we got in, we did it, and we got out in time.
0:50:43 > 0:50:48Mission accomplished, job done. We're all finished.
0:50:48 > 0:50:52We did 48 repairs, but they were only minor repairs, really.
0:50:52 > 0:50:55It could potentially have been a lot worse.
0:50:55 > 0:50:58I think it's a real credit to the people 60 years ago.
0:50:58 > 0:51:02You know, if I could go back in time and shake their hands, I really would.
0:51:04 > 0:51:07It's over to our operation colleagues now.
0:51:07 > 0:51:10They're switching water on now.
0:51:10 > 0:51:14And it goes out into supply and it becomes the drinking water of
0:51:14 > 0:51:17the people of Manchester once again - as if we'd never been here.
0:51:19 > 0:51:21Before the water is safe to drink,
0:51:21 > 0:51:24the entire pipeline needs to be flushed through.
0:51:24 > 0:51:27This is the end of the Haweswater Aqueduct.
0:51:27 > 0:51:30This is sort of the last valve in this building that allows us to
0:51:30 > 0:51:32discharge the water from the aqueduct,
0:51:32 > 0:51:36this flushing flow that we're now introducing into the aqueduct.
0:51:36 > 0:51:37Right, OK.
0:51:37 > 0:51:41We'll wait from the call up there, as soon as they're ready, open that,
0:51:41 > 0:51:44and then we'll have a look at what the water's like.
0:51:45 > 0:51:48Let John know we're ready to roll down here.
0:51:48 > 0:51:51Go. Give it the beans.
0:51:57 > 0:52:00So it'll slowly build, think it's beginning to start now.
0:52:05 > 0:52:08Can hear you've got an airplane type, ramp up sound,
0:52:08 > 0:52:12as the valve starts to operate and open. There it goes.
0:52:13 > 0:52:17Fantastic, isn't it, hey? Quite an occasion, really, I think.
0:52:17 > 0:52:20So as you can hear now it's starting to ramp up,
0:52:20 > 0:52:22it's well and truly going now.
0:52:23 > 0:52:26And it'll gradually get higher and higher.
0:52:26 > 0:52:29Well, that's the Haweswater Aqueduct being turned back on.
0:52:32 > 0:52:36Yeah, we've had an empty aqueduct for two and a half weeks now.
0:52:36 > 0:52:40We've had 80 people tramming up and down the aqueduct,
0:52:40 > 0:52:43working shifts, we've had vehicles going up and down the aqueduct.
0:52:43 > 0:52:46I think we're going to be surprised what colour the water comes out in here,
0:52:46 > 0:52:50and it'll be pretty obviously that will not be drinking water.
0:52:50 > 0:52:51It'll be like Guinness.
0:52:57 > 0:52:59It's pointless taking a sample to the labs,
0:52:59 > 0:53:02that plainly is not drinking water yet.
0:53:07 > 0:53:10A testament to the engineers who built
0:53:10 > 0:53:13the aqueduct at the end of the day, because all we've effectively
0:53:13 > 0:53:16done is just drain it down and got in and had a look.
0:53:16 > 0:53:20Here it is sort of 60, 70 years later, and it still works.
0:53:23 > 0:53:25Samples will be taken to the company lab.
0:53:25 > 0:53:27When they're given the all clear,
0:53:27 > 0:53:29Manchester will be back to its normal water supply.
0:53:42 > 0:53:46It takes nearly 400,000 litres to fill the Victoria Baths.
0:53:49 > 0:53:51I've worked in the water industry for 30 years,
0:53:51 > 0:53:54but I've never done anything like this before.
0:53:54 > 0:53:56It just looks completely different.
0:53:56 > 0:53:59I know all it is... It's just a pool with water,
0:53:59 > 0:54:03but, I don't know, it's really impressive.
0:54:03 > 0:54:05You need to jump in, give us a demo.
0:54:05 > 0:54:07- I'll dive in if you want.- Go on.
0:54:07 > 0:54:10- Give us five minutes then I'll be in.- Must be mad.
0:54:12 > 0:54:14He's obviously not worked in the water industry long.
0:54:14 > 0:54:17There's four levels of coldness.
0:54:17 > 0:54:20There's cold, very cold, extremely cold, ... freezing.
0:54:20 > 0:54:22And that's ... freezing.
0:54:22 > 0:54:26- It's Brad Pitt. - Brad Pitt. Yeah, right.
0:54:30 > 0:54:31Fat Pitt.
0:54:40 > 0:54:42Very brave.
0:54:42 > 0:54:47So it says the water's about 17 degrees. Feels a lot less.
0:54:47 > 0:54:51It's actually brilliant, it really is. It's very exhilarating.
0:54:51 > 0:54:55And one of the best things is, you can do this and look up at the roof.
0:55:02 > 0:55:04Ooh! And that is only the toes!
0:55:06 > 0:55:07Still not going in.
0:55:15 > 0:55:18Must be great for you two, being here every day
0:55:18 > 0:55:21and the pool's always empty and then to see it like this...?
0:55:21 > 0:55:23It's been mesmerising, actually.
0:55:23 > 0:55:26The last three days we've had our lunch
0:55:26 > 0:55:28on the chairs down there cos it's mesmerising,
0:55:28 > 0:55:32the water going in, it filling up, the different lighting, et cetera.
0:55:32 > 0:55:36- It's great.- Yeah, you going to swim in it every day?
0:55:36 > 0:55:39Probably. You not going to, have a dabble then or...?
0:55:39 > 0:55:41- No.- Not even a paddle?
0:55:41 > 0:55:44- I'm quite happy to watch you two swim.- All right.
0:55:46 > 0:55:50It's the anniversary party, and John is one of the guests of honour.
0:55:55 > 0:55:57The people that are here today are a lot of...
0:55:57 > 0:56:00We got volunteers that have been involved over the last ten years,
0:56:00 > 0:56:03you know, just activities with Victoria Baths.
0:56:03 > 0:56:05We got some dignitaries as well.
0:56:05 > 0:56:07If anybody asks me what I'm here for, I'm telling them
0:56:07 > 0:56:09I'm the depth and volume consultant.
0:56:09 > 0:56:12- Just trying to big myself up a bit. - Yeah, why not, yeah.
0:56:37 > 0:56:38It's good, really good.
0:56:38 > 0:56:41I know that he was particularly looking forward to
0:56:41 > 0:56:44the synchronised swimmers. Yeah, definitely. Yes.
0:56:49 > 0:56:52I'd do it again just for the synchronised swimmers, I think.
0:56:52 > 0:56:54I think you should go, you know, perhaps do it,
0:56:54 > 0:56:57- you know, in your spare time. - Yeah, I could do.
0:56:57 > 0:56:59- Do they have men's synchronised swimmers?- I don't think so.
0:56:59 > 0:57:02- Don't think it has quite the same attraction.- No.
0:57:03 > 0:57:05Just one more. John.
0:57:07 > 0:57:10John the waterman from United Utilities.
0:57:10 > 0:57:11He put the water in.
0:57:11 > 0:57:13He supplied the water, so he can go in the middle.
0:57:13 > 0:57:17It was a very small part we played, but we were glad to help.
0:57:18 > 0:57:20Keep the smiles going now, that's good.
0:57:20 > 0:57:23You may think it was a small part, but to us it was the biggest part.
0:57:23 > 0:57:25- Yeah, thank you very much. - Cheers, girls.
0:57:25 > 0:57:28A photo for your mantelpiece, do you think your wife will be happy?
0:57:28 > 0:57:30No.
0:57:33 > 0:57:35The first few months, you're spewing up all over,
0:57:35 > 0:57:38and you've got the shits, but after that you get used to it.
0:57:38 > 0:57:42Actually I'm worried about if it pings off down the horizon.
0:57:43 > 0:57:45We'll keep hold of it.
0:57:45 > 0:57:48It's not very common that we get to dig inside someone's property.
0:57:48 > 0:57:51- And you know, we're going to hit some legal problems.- Yeah.
0:57:51 > 0:57:54No problem. We'll do that, don't worry about that.
0:57:54 > 0:57:56In the poo.
0:57:56 > 0:57:57Roger, in the poo.
0:57:57 > 0:58:01Does anyone know what an abattoir is? No?
0:58:01 > 0:58:04People of Warrington, you've got water in the morning.