A host of Merseyside MPs have written to the boss of United Utilities to ask for an explanation regarding raw sewage in the River Mersey.
Over the weekend, a number of videos and images of sewage and excrement in the Mersey were shared online, with a number of videos focussing on sewage in the Otterspool area. Today United Utilities, which manages region's water, insisted it was not responsible for the discharge, instead blaming an unnamed third party.
A spokesperson for United Utilities said: "Over the weekend we have carried out thorough checks of all of our wastewater systems in the area and we are positive that there have not been any releases of sewage into the river. Our teams did find evidence that the pollution had been caused by a third party in the Otterspool area and we have reported this to the Environment Agency and Liverpool City Council’s Environmental Health department."
READ MORE: United Utilities respond to videos of raw sewage in River Mersey
A large number of Merseyside MPs have now written to Steve Mogford, the chief executive of United Utilities, asking for a full explanation of where the sewage has come from. The letter is critical of the wider privatised utilities sector, for what the MPs label 'financial engineering.'
It states: "We have been contacted by many furious constituents who are aghast that our natural environment has been polluted so egregiously, particularly given the millions of pounds of public money spent on The Mersey Estuary Pollution Alleviation Scheme.
"The Mersey has become much cleaner after years of such efforts, but this wanton behaviour puts all that at risk. It is part of a deteriorating national picture with privatised water companies, such as you, contributing over the last six years t at least 1,261,498 sewage spill events. United Utilities itself has had 81,588 spills for 570,753 hours in 2021 according to The Rivers Trust.
"We would like an explanation, particularly given that our water bills include payments for proper treatment and disposal of wastewater. Many of our constituents believe that rather than invest properly in infrastructure, privatised water companies have prioritised paying billions to shareholders, millions to executives, neglected dealing with loss through leakage and have invested less than necessary in infrastructure.
"This financial engineering, allowed by a weak regulator in OFWAT, has left customers fleeced and our environment despoiled whilst monopoly water companies have made off with billions. Please respond in a way we can pass on to our constituents who convey to us increasing anger at this behaviour."
The strongly worded letter was written by Garston and Halewood MP Maria Eagle and has been signed by a total of 18 north west Members of Parliament. The list includes Maria's sister, Wallasey MP Angela Eagle, Liverpool members Ian Byrne, Dan Carden and Paula Barker and other Merseyside elected members including Mick Whitley, Peter Dowd, Alison McGovern and Bill Esterson.
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