A GREEN Party campaigner is taking the water company for the north west of England to task over the state of Oldham’s waterways.

The issue is in the headlines after Conservative MPs blocked an amendment to the Environment Bill which would have made water companies stop pumping raw sewage into rivers and seas.

As a response, Brian Banawich, a campaigner from Saddleworth, wrote a letter to the chief executive of United Utilities to remind the company of its responsibilities.

He even made the trip to the company’s office in Warrington to hand it over personally.

He said: “We still have infrastructure that isn’t fit for purpose in dealing with raw sewage leaks into our rivers.

"It’s fair to ask where all the money has gone that should have been spent on updating this vital infrastructure.”

Brian pointed to information from The Rivers Trust, which shows where treated and untreated – or raw – sewage enters Oldham’s waterways, especially from storm overflows in extreme weather.

He added: “There’s a shocking volume of contaminated, untreated wastewater reaching our rivers and this shows that the current approach and infrastructure needs an immediate, radical overhaul.

"We know extreme weather and flooding are likely to increase and this is an environmental and public health emergency.”

Responding to Brian, a spokesperson for United Utilities said that the company is investing into the issue, but that it needs support from the Government to continue to do so.

They said: “During storm conditions, when sewers and treatment plants are operating at full capacity, we are permitted to spill excess storm water from combined sewer overflows (CSOs) to help prevent the flooding of streets, homes and businesses.

“Over the past twenty years, United Utilities has invested £1.2 billion improving CSOs to reduce the amount and impact of spills.

"We stand ready to invest further in our rivers to help bring about the transformation we all want to see. But for this investment, we’re calling on Government and Ofwat to match our ambition at the next price review.

“The water industry’s recent report sets out ten key steps necessary to achieve the radical changes we all want. We’re asking government to bring forward legislation in a new Rivers Act to provide greater protection for rivers.

"The Environment Agency estimates that CSOs lead to around 30 per cent of river and sea pollution in the North West, with the remaining 70 per cent due to other causes, such as rain running off highways and farm land, and private drainage being incorrectly connected. So, without everyone working together, we simply won’t get this radical change.”