NEW Environment Agency data suggests that six out of the ten longest sewage discharges last year in England happened in Cumbria. 

These were the ten longest sewage discharges: 

  1. Plumbland WWTW (Wastewater treatment works), Cumbria – 6896 hours
  2. Whissendine WWTW, Rutland – 6646 hours
  3. St Paul’s Road CSO (combined sewer overflow), Lancashire – 5582 hours
  4. Lune Street Pumping Station, Lancashire – 5336 hours
  5. Kirk Bampton WWTW, Cumbria – 5123 hours
  6. Ravenglass STW (sewage treatment works) Cumbria – 4603 hours
  7. Galloper Pool SW (sewage works), Cumbria – 4466 hours
  8. Cark in Cartmel PS (pumping station), Cumbria – 4420 hours
  9. Liverpool Road CSO, Staffordshire - 4138 hours
  10. Staveley WWTW, Cumbria – 4063 hours

 

The issue was raised in a House of Commons debate. The South Lakes MP Tim Farron said: "We hear the Government saying that the polluter should pay. Yes, the polluters pay: they pay themselves massive bonuses.

“In Cumbria and across the country, we are outraged. It is not just about the threat to the biodiversity of our lakes and rivers, to our fish stocks, to those who swim, to our pets using our waterways and to the tourism economy that underpins the Lake District.

“It is also about the deep injustice that large corporations are raking in enormous profits, while this Government are doing nothing to stop them pumping sewage into the waterways that we value so dearly in Cumbria and elsewhere.”

When this data was put to United Utilities, it pointed out that 54 per cent of the sewers in the north-west are combined sewers, which carry rainwater too. This is double the industry average of 27 per cent. 

It then said that the area receives 28 per cent more rainfall than the UK average. 

Kevin Sayers, the United Utilities area engagement lead, said: “We invest twice as much as we make in profits in our infrastructure. We have heard what people think about the use of storm overflows and we’re committed to delivering a real step change in performance. We are taking action now and have reduced the operation of storm overflows by a third since 2020, but we know there is more to be done.

“That is why we have ambitious plans to deliver one of the largest environmental improvement programmes in the country.  We’re pleased we now have approval to fast-track that investment and begin to deliver £900 million of improvements early – of which around almost £300m is being spent in Cumbria.  This will bring region-wide benefits, reducing storm overflows, creating jobs, and boosting the resilience of local communities and the environment.”