Oldham Lib-Dems hit out at water companies dumping sewage in local rivers

Oldham Liberal Democrats have tabled a motion hitting out water companies like United Utilities, who were responsible for hundreds of thousands of sewage dumps in local rivers and waterways over recent years. 

Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader councillor Sam Al-Hamdani, who will move the motion next Wednesday (September 6), said: “It is absolutely disgusting that the government has allowed these polluting companies to continue dumping sewage into our waterways, despite multiple opportunities to tighten the law. 

"The sewage dumps are taking place in rivers, brooks and streams where people go swimming, boating and fishing.” 

United Utilities recorded the second highest number of sewage dumps in 2022, at more than 69,000. 

According to data analysed by the Liberal Democrats, those discharges lasted for more than 425,000 hours.

In Oldham alone, raw sewage has been discharged into our waterways more than 2,500 times since 2021, lasting for more than 14,000 hours. 

United Utilities also reported one of the highest overall spends on bonuses for its senior staff. 

The company awarded a whopping £4.2 million in bonuses last year alone.

Councillor Diane Williamson, Crompton Ward, who will second the motion, added: “We cannot allow this destruction of our waterways in pursuit of profit to continue. 

"There should be no rewards for failure. 

"These companies must pay to put right the mess they have made through a proper Sewage Tax.”

In response, United Utilities acknowledge there is 'more to do', but also insist that they will continue to invest in its wastewater treatment works.

A United Utilities spokesperson told the Chronicle: “We are committed to delivering a step change in performance and since 2020 we have reduced the operation of storm overflows by a third, but we know there is more to do.

“With the largest combined sewer network in the country and 28 per cent more rainfall in our region than the UK average, we have ambitious plans to deliver further improvements through one of the biggest environmental programmes in the country.

"We now have approval to fast track that and begin to deliver £1.5 billion of improvements early – including numerous projects to reduce the use of overflows along the Rivers Irk, Medlock and Tame.

“On top of this, we are continuing to make investments in our wastewater treatment works – this includes work at Mossley and Saddleworth on the River Tame.”

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