United Utilities has confirmed it is not responsible for the pollution that was seen in the Mersey at the weekend.
A statement issued by the water company said that an immediate and thorough investigation found no issues at any of its assets in the vicinity of the pollution. However, it did find evidence that toilet and other waste had been thrown directly into the river where a temporary caravan site had been set up on Otterspool Promenade. The evidence has been given to the Environment Agency (EA) and to Liverpool City Council.
A second pollution incident on the same weekend further downstream at Widnes was, again, unrelated to United Utilities. Evidence linking that to illegal discharges directly into the river from a local factory has also been given to the EA.
Around 200 reported pollution incidents a year are proven not to be linked to United Utilities’ operations following thorough investigations. The water company said the two recent incidents demonstrate that a variety of sources have an impact on water courses, with the EA estimating that 70% is due to run off from highways and agricultural fields, private septic tanks, private drainage being incorrectly connected and other illegal activity.
The remaining 30% of the impact is due to wastewater treatment processes and combined storm overflows (CSOs). United Utilities said it has invested £1.2 billion improving CSOs to reduce the amount and impact of spills, including a £200 million extension to its Liverpool wastewater treatment works in 2016.
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