United Utilities fined nearly £1m after raw sewage polluted coast

The water company was ordered to pay £964,225 in fines and costs at Preston Magistrates' Court on September 8, after pleading guilty to five environmental permit offences following a major pollution incident in Lancashire. The offences relate to a series of sewage discharges between June 11 and June 22, 2023, when untreated sewage entered the Irish Sea from three coastal pumping stations. An Environment Agency investigation found the incident began after the partial collapse of a final effluent pipe at Fleetwood Wastewater Treatment Works, reducing the amount of sewage the site could process and causing wastewater to back up through the wider network. Following periods of rainfall, sewage was discharged from pumping stations at Manchester Square in Blackpool, Anchorsholme and Chatsworth Avenue in Fleetwood. An EA investigation found the incident began after the partial collapse of a final effluent pipe at Fleetwood Wastewater Treatment Works (Image: Environment Agency) Investigators found the spills breached the conditions of the company's environmental permits, which place strict controls on when sewage can be released. United Utilities admitted the breaches during interviews under caution and later pleaded guilty to five offences. The Environment Agency said sewage was reported on beaches and at marine recreational facilities, including Fleetwood Baths. The company's own modelling suggested a sewage plume reached seven bathing waters and significantly affected water quality following the spills. As a result, "no bathing" advice was issued across all eight designated bathing waters along the affected coastline. Sampling carried out during the incident was also indicative of the presence of E. coli, while three shellfish beds were temporarily closed by the Food Standards Agency due to public health concerns. The incident had a significant impact on coastal communities and businesses during the busy summer season. Popular tourist destinations, including Blackpool and St Annes, were affected by the contamination, with the Environment Agency saying visitor numbers in Blackpool fell by hundreds of thousands compared with the previous year. Andy Brown, the Environment Agency's Water Regulation Manager, said: "This was an unacceptable pollution incident which had far-reaching consequences for residents and businesses along the Fylde Coast. "Our investigation found that United Utilities Water Limited discharged sewage outside the conditions of its environmental permits. The company admitted those breaches, and today's record fine reflects the seriousness of the offences and the harm caused. "Water companies have a fundamental responsibility to properly manage their assets and comply with the environmental permits designed to protect our rivers, seas and communities. When they fail to do so, we will hold them to account. Read more Fundraiser launched to help Lancashire man return to UK after breaking neck in Turkey Police appeal after boy, 14, robbed of e-bike by two men who pushed him into bushes 4 lucky North West postcodes win in today's Postcode Lottery draw "We will continue to rigorously regulate the water industry, investigate breaches and take action against companies that fail to meet their environmental obligations." In the aftermath of the incident, United Utilities constructed a two-kilometre temporary bypass around the damaged pipe, installed additional pumping equipment and used tankers to transport wastewater to other treatment works. The damaged pipe was later repaired and the Fleetwood treatment works returned to full service. The company also made a voluntary payment of £250,000 to Blackpool Council after images of Blackpool Tower were widely used alongside reports of the incident at a time when the resort was promoting tourism through a major advertising campaign. United Utilities said the cost of responding to and repairing the incident was around £38 million. The company has since carried out further work aimed at improving the resilience of the wastewater network along the Fylde Coast.