Local campaigners call for action to clean up Oldham's waterways.

Local Green campaigners in Oldham and Saddleworth have slammed a vote in last week's parliament, that would have placed a legal duty on water companies not to pump raw sewage into rivers, after it was voted down by Tory MPs.

Green Party activist and Greenfield resident Brian Banawich travelled to the United Utilities headquarters in Warrington to hand in a letter to United Utilities chief executive, in person, highlighting the responsibilities their company has in stopping sewage entering Oldham's rivers and waterways.

Brian said: "Thirty two years after privatisation and according to the government, we still have water infrastructure that isn't fit for purpose in dealing with raw sewage leaks into our local rivers.

"It's fair to ask where has all the money gone that should have been spent on updating this vital water infrastructure?.

"Water companies need to get the basics right on the environment before handing out shareholder dividends. 

"United Utilities made millions of pounds last year, all this while a third of England's rivers were failing to meet tests for good ecological status due to discharges from sewage treatment works" .

"According to to The River's Trust many of our waterways in Oldham and Saddleworth are affected when the sewerage network discharges treated effluent.

"Overflows of untreated effluent and storm water, also affect rivers in Oldham and Saddleworth. I'm sure local people would agree that is simply unacceptable"

In 2017 United Utilities were ordered to pay a fine of £666,000 after pleading guilty to polluting a river with untreated sewage effluent in Greater Manchester.

The Environment Agency (EA) prosecuted United Utilities, after sewage polluted the River Medlock in 2014.

A total 21,700 cubic metres of sewage was discharged into the water, having a ‘significant impact’ on fish stocks and water quality in the river, according to the Environment Agency.  

A United Utilities spokesperson said: “During storm conditions, when sewers and treatment plants are operating at full capacity, we are permitted to spill excess storm water from Combined sewer overflows (CSOs) to help prevent the flooding of streets, homes and businesses.

“Over the past twenty years, United Utilities has invested £1.2bn improving CSOs to reduce the amount and impact of spills.

"We stand ready to invest further in our rivers to help bring about the transformation we all want to see.

"But for this investment, we’re calling on Government and Ofwat to match our ambition at the next price review.

“The water industry’s recent report  https://www.water.org.uk/rivers/ sets out ten key steps necessary to achieve the radical changes we all want.

"We’re asking government to bring forward legislation in a new Rivers Act to provide greater protection for rivers.

"The Environment Agency estimates that wastewater leads to around 30 per cent of river and sea pollution in the North West, with the remaining 70 per cent due to other causes, such as rain running off highways and farm land, and private drainage being incorrectly connected.

"So, without everyone working together, we simply won’t get this radical change we all want.” 

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