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Council calls for accountability after sewage pumped into sea off Teesside
Overview
Councillors in Teesside are demanding accountability following an incident where accidental damage to a main sewer pipe in Middlesbrough led Northumbrian Water to pump sewage into the sea. The fracture occurred on 26 June after earth was tipped onto pipework during a solar farm development. Redcar and Cleveland Council criticised the delay in issuing 'no swim' alerts, which were not communicated to them for three days. While the Environment Agency stated that water samples showed no risk to bathers, investigations and discussions regarding liability and potential sanctions remain ongoing.
Key points
- Accidental damage to a main sewer pipe in Middlesbrough on 26 June led to sewage being discharged into the sea.
- The pipe fracture occurred when thousands of tonnes of earth were tipped onto pipework by contractors working on a solar farm development.
- Redcar and Cleveland Council stated they were not informed of the incident until three days later, delaying 'no swim' alerts for beaches from Hartlepool to Saltburn.
- The Environment Agency stated that the discharge advice was precautionary and water sample analysis showed no risk to bathers.
- Northumbrian Water stated they immediately informed the Environment Agency and set up testing which confirmed minimal environmental impact.
- Discussions are ongoing regarding potential sanctions against Northumbrian Water and whether the council could be liable for costs as the landowner.