Warning not to swim at beaches in Lancashire after more sewage discharge
The fresh warning as come after last night's thunderstorms
People in Lancashire are being told not to swim at a number of beaches in Lancashire, after more sewage was discharged during last night's storm.
United Utilities say there was around 40mm of rainfall in just two hours, causing the sewage system to reach full capacity at Blackpool.
This resulted in untreated sewage, mixed with rainway, to be released into the irish sea.
Local councils are now advising people to avoid swimming in the area in order to avoid contamination.
Blackpool Council, Fylde Council and Wyre Council say people shouldn't swim at the following beaches:
- Bispham
- Blackpool
- Cleveleys
- Fleetwood
- St Annes
United Utilities are also carrying out an urgent repair to a burst pipe which carries treated water from Fleetwood to the sea.
They say the treatment works in the town are running at a reduced rate whilst engineers carry out emergency repair work, which will likely have also had a knock on effect with the storage capacity last night. They are having to install temporary pipes overland.
Mark Garth, Wastewater Director, at United Utilities, said: “The burst occurred on a large pipe which is deep underground, making the repair complex and challenging.
“The reduced capacity at the treatment works and in our network as a result of this burst meant there was less storage available than normal to deal with the heavy rainfall last night. This resulted in storm overflows operating. We are working closely with the Environment Agency and local councils as we respond to this.”
Fleetwood Marsh Nature Reserve has now been closed indefinitely whilst the emergency pipes are constructed.