Saddleworth Parish Council to insist United Utilities clean up local rivers – and that they should foot the bill, not us.

7th of August, 2023

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It’s no secret that water firms across the country have been criticised and fined over sewage and chemical discharges into UK waterways.

Here in Saddleworth, the Parish Council has seen data showing details of toxic matter being discharged into local streams, including along the River Tame at Delph, Greenfield and other Saddleworth sites.

Water sampling at Pingle Mill found traces of three chemical pollutants: 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid (2,4-D), a weed killer that the International Agency for Research on Cancer considers to be possibly carcinogenic; traces of PFOS, a synthetic chemical used to make products resistant to stains, grease, soil, and water; and a “forever chemical” pFoctanoate – all putting public health and nature at risk.

Yet, despite United Utilities reporting £788m profits in the year to 31st March 2023 and paying dividends of £300m to their shareholders, UU proposes to add the costs of any clean up to our water bills!

At a recent meeting, Saddleworth Parish Council resolved to write to United Utilities requesting detailed plans, including a timetable, to ensure these discharges into our local waters are prevented in future and calling for the clean-up costs to be met by United Utilities and their shareholders and not paid for by customers.

SPC also supports calls for mandatory monitoring of sewage outlets and increased fines for sewage discharges.

Find out more about sewage and other pollutants in our rivers on The Rivers Trust website at https://theriverstrust.org