A Cumberland Council member has criticised private water companies for ‘dragging their heels’ due to their ongoing dumping of sewage in our waterways.

Brian Wernham, Lib Dem councillor for Stanwix Urban, said the apology has come too late, after years of sewage dumping in Cumbria.

This apology was in a statement issued through Water UK, an organisation representing the interests of the private water industry, containing companies such as United Utilities, on May 18.

Ruth Kelly, chair of Water UK, said: “The message from the water and sewage industry today is clear: we are sorry.

“More should have been done to address the issue of spillages sooner and the public is right to be upset about the current quality of our rivers and beaches.

“We have listened and have an unprecedented plan to start to put it right.

“This problem cannot be fixed overnight, but we are determined to do everything we can to transform our rivers and seas in the way we all want to see.”

Cllr Wernham said: “The apology is far too late after years of this sewage scandal.

“The Cumberland Liberal Democrats have called for United Utilities to be overhauled following an overdue apology for sewage dumping.”

Brian said that the apology is ‘far too late’ and that it is ‘meaningless unless the firm is completely reformed’.

“The Lib Dems are calling for water firms to become public benefit companies, making environmental goals more important than profits, and making it compulsory for environmental experts to sit on their company boards. 

“This would put an end to billions of pounds being wasted in dividends whilst sewage destroys waterways,” he added.

Brian Wernham is also demanding an apology from John Stevenson, the MP for Carlisle, for voting down tougher action on water firms.

He continued: “This announcement is too little too late after years of putting public health at risk and large-scale environmental damage, which has previously been arrogantly dismissed by the water industry.

“This apology means nothing unless the firm is completely reformed from top to bottom.

“Protecting the environment should be more important than making overseas investors rich.

“Sadly, United Utilities still has its priorities all wrong.

“To add insult to injury, John Stevenson and Mark Jenkinson have spent recent years voting down tougher action on water firms putting poo into Cumberland’s lakes, rivers, and seaside beaches.

“They too owe their constituents an apology.”