United Utilities to invest over £900 million for 'healthier' waterways

The company will aim to accelerate investment to several wastewater treatment works within the Eden catchment in Cumbria - Appleby, Brampton, Kirkby Stephen, Warwick Bridge, Carlisle and Penrith - which they say will “protect natural ecosystems, continue to facilitate the economic development of the area, and help wildlife by improving water quality in Cumbria's rivers”.

The £914 million total is broken down into three areas: £719 million for reducing storm overflow spills, helping protect water quality at inland waterways across the north west, including Windermere in the Lake District; £117 million for habitat improvements in and around the River Eden; and £78 million to reduce the frequency of storm overflow spills into bathing waters.

Water companies have been under fire recently after it was revealed that there were 302,000 sewage spills by water companies into UK rivers, with United Utilities accounting for almost a fifth of the spills.

Environment Secretary Therese Coffey has faced calls to resign over the amount of sewage water companies have discharged into UK waterways with Labour accusing the Government of “turning Britain’s waterways into an open sewer”.

New United Utilities CEO Louise Beardmore said that the company had an ‘ambitious plan’ to improve ‘environmental performance’.

Louise Beardmore (Image: United Utilities)“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” she said.

“We have an ambitious plan, including the largest investment programme we have ever delivered, as we seek to enable a step change in environmental performance right across the region.

“I know we have much more to do, addressing the things that matter most to our customers and which benefit the region and I am committed to doing that.”