Experts warn that sewage overflows pose a threat to wildlife and public health at beauty spots. The worst one can last for 8500 hours.

  • New data shows that sewage overflows pose a threat to wildlife and public health.
  • Waste works are among the worst offenders in Northumberland, Cumbria, and Yorkshire. 
  • British beauty spots are at risk from ecological threats, freshwater experts warn










Overflowing sewage is threatening wildlife and public health at top beauty spots for thousands of hours. 

Sedbergh wastewater works, in the Yorkshire Dales, was the most serious offender. They discharged sewage in the River Lune for 8,490 hours.

Cumbria: A Cark wastewater treatment facility released sewage over 7,000 hours to the River Eea in Lake District. Another plant at Embleton, also producing effluent, produced effluent of more than 6,600 hour.

They are the 10 worst sewage leakages that have been reported by Environment Agency.

United Utilities is the operator of all three. This company provides North West wastewater service and has been found responsible for 7 out the top 10 most popular sites.

Sewage overflows lasting thousands of hours are threatening public health and wildlife at popular beauty spots. [File picture]

Overflowing sewage is threatening wildlife and public health at top beauty spots for thousands of hours. [File picture] 

A treatment works at Cark, Cumbria, released sewage for more than 7,000 hours into the River Eea in the Lake District, where another plant in the village of Embleton also produced effluent for more than 6,600 hours

Cumbria: A Cark wastewater treatment facility released sewage over 7,000 hours to the River Eea in Lake District. Another plant at Embleton produced more than 6,600 hours of effluent. 

Professor Rick Battarbee, a freshwater ecologist from University College London, said: ‘Sewage overflows are a threat to public health because wild swimmers and others using rivers for recreation can become ill from faecal bacteria like E. coli.

‘They are a threat to fish like our native brown trout, which likes clean, oxygenated water, and they can cause excessive algal growth which is bad for river flies such as mayflies and stoneflies.’

High rainfall in the North West can lead to overflows of sewage.

To release water from homes and businesses after storms or heavy rainfall, sewage can be piped into rivers.

Tim Farron, environment spokesman for the Liberal Democrats, said: ‘Water companies have got away with this for far too long, particularly when they’re making billions in profits each year.’

A spokesman for United Utilities said: ‘We have invested £1.2billion to improve overflow discharges… and our existing plans are already focused on securing further improvements.’

The North West is one of the wettest areas of the country, and high rainfall can contribute to sewage overspills

The North West region is the most arid in the country. High precipitation can cause sewage overflows. 

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