United Utilities refuse to provide figures on sewage dumping

United Utilities are refusing to provide real time data on sewage, despite other water companies doing the same, which is likely to be covering up increased sewage being dumped into local rivers.

This July was the wettest since 2009, with rainfall in Greater Manchester at 170% of its average levels. Environmental campaigners have warned that sewage discharges in 2022 – which went on for an eye-watering 2.4 million hours – were still lower than they could have been due to low rainfall levels, and that this year’s higher rainfall levels are likely to mean substantial increases.

Lisa Smart, the Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Hazel Grove constituency, said: “We know that United Utilities dumped sewage into the River Goyt for nearly 1,000 hours in 2022. In the north west, we have now had well above average rainfall in January, March, June and July, which is likely to mean that we have had even greater levels of sewage dumping.

“It is outrageous that companies are being allowed to get away with this.”

While Thames Water has started providing real time data on sewage dumping, United Utilities are among the many companies who have refused to do so, meaning that people will not be able  to find out the condition of local rivers right now until March next year.

Lisa continued: “We know that this data could be provided; we also know that United Utilities needs to invest heavily into its measuring equipment so that it can properly assess the damage being done – but they haven’t done it yet.

“It is galling to see United Utilities paying out bumper dividends to shareholders again and again – another £300 million was paid out this year – and yet they can’t even tell us how much sewage they are putting into local rivers.

“The Liberal Democrats have managed to change legislation to hold the water companies to account, but this failing Tory government seems determined to ignore the problems and let them carry on destroying our rivers. This must end.”