Sewage dumping hits unprecedented levels

The horrendous levels of sewage dumping across our area have been laid bare by the latest figures released by the Environment Agency, with United Utilities, the water company for our borough, discharged sewage a staggering 97,537 times last year – a 41% rise on 2022.

Liberal Democrat councillor Sam Al-Hamdani called for tougher action against sewage dumping in local rivers/beaches, including replacing Ofwat with a tougher regulator. The party has also called for a ban on bonuses for water company bosses whose firms have dumped sewage into waterways.

He said: “It is a complete scandal that filthy sewage is being pumped into our area’s rivers and waterways.”

“Our community should not be forced to put up with this any longer yet time and again this Conservative government has voted against tougher action on sewage dumping. 

Figures for dumping in Saddleworth have astonishingly increased – a storm overflow in Greenfield released sewage for 2,300 hours last year actually increased last year to 2,748 hours. Another storm drain in close by in Greenfield also overflowed for another 1,372 hours – putting raw sewage into the river for the equivalent of 171 days – nearly half a year. There were other major overflows in Dobcross and Delph, as well as further along the River Tame in Mossley.

He continued: “In Oldham and Saddleworth, the Liberal Democrats have been leading the way in holding water companies to account and have called for tougher action to stop sewage being dumped in local rivers.

“The Conservatives aren’t going to deal with this for another 25 years – we need action now.

“We need to see a ban on bonuses for water company bosses whose firms have pumped filth into our waterways and our local community is protected from this filth.”