THE Environment Agency has released figures detailing the number of hours of sewage spills from outlets across Cumbria over 2022. 

Just four outlets in the region released a combined total duration of 17,555 hours worth of spills over the year. 

  • Ravenglass: 4603.89 hours into the River Esk, blamed on asset power failure. 
  • Cark: 4420.97 hours into the River Eea, blamed on water infiltration. 
  • Staveley, near Windermere: 4064.33 hours into the River Kent, blamed on asset configuration. 
  • Galloper Park, Tebay: 4466.69 hours into Galloper Pool, blamed on hydraulic capacity. 

The government has instructed water companies to install monitors on all storm overflows by the end of this year. 

United Utilities monitor the duration and frequency of sewage spills at 88.9 per cent of storm overflows across the north west. 

Storm overflows are safety valves designed to release excess stormwater from the sewerage system into rivers or the sea during prolonged, heavy rainfall, to ensure they are not overwhelmed.

Water companies should only do this under strictly permitted conditions. Event Duration Monitoring devices on the storm outlets provide essential information about storm overflow use, helping to hold water companies to account.

Nationally, there was a decrease in spills.

However, the agency executive director John Leyland said: "The decrease in spills in 2022 is largely down to dry weather, not water company action. 

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“We want to see quicker progress from water companies on reducing spills and acting on monitoring data."

United Utilities said earlier this month (April) that it would invest more than £900 million in water and environmental improvements across the north west.

£719 million of this will be for reducing storm overflow spills, and protecting water quality at waterways across the north west such as Windermere. 

It also said it would put £78 million to reduce to frequency of storm overflow spills into bathing waters. 

Louise Beardmore, chief executive officer of United Utilities, said: "I am very clear about the responsibilities United Utilities has to deliver great services for customers, to protect and enhance the environment and to ensure we are investing in the infrastructure we need in the region to support future growth and climate change."