Originally constructed between 1933 and 1955, the 110km Haweswater Aqueduct is to be upgraded to ensure that a continuing supply of clean drinking water is delivered to the residents of Cumbria, Lancashire, and Greater Manchester.
The Haweswater Aqueduct Resilience Programme (HARP) is a major infrastructure project procured by United Utilities Water and is the first to be delivered under the Direct Procurement for Customers (DPC) model introduced by Ofwat at the 2019 Price Review (PR19).
With Ofwat’s consent United Utilities Water has entered into a contract with Cascade Infrastructure Limited which will deliver, finance and maintain the six tunnel sections to be replaced.
United Utilities Water will recover over the life of the contract the costs associated with HARP from customers pursuant to an Allowed Revenue Direction (ARD) which has been issued by Ofwat.
Links to the consent provided to United Utilities Water together with our reasons for doing so, along with a copy of the ARD and our guidance associated with the project and other related documents can be found below.
6 August 2025 Letter: direction modifying the DPC Allowed Revenue Direction
Final HARP Guidance – July 2025
Final reasons document August 2025
HARP Final Consent Protocol – redacted