Burst pipe forces closure of Fleetwood sewage treatment plant

A sewage treatment plant has been shut down “as a precaution” after a pipe burst underground.

Operations at Fleetwood Wastewater Treatment Works have been “temporarily suspended” after residents reported flooding in gardens in Rossall, Lancashire, United Utilities said.

The water firm said the leak was contained “within a few hours” on Wednesday but engineers were excavating the site and examining “a number of deep pipes” at the junction of The Strand and Broadway in order to confirm what caused it.

Meanwhile, United Utilities also confirmed “intense rain” on Friday due to Storm Claudia led to untreated sewage being discharged in a number of locations, including the sea at the Fylde coast.

The discharge was not related to the burst pipe, it said.

United Utilities said the source of the flooding was a sink hole which had appeared in a grass verge adjacent to the Broadway and the Strand junction.

Lorraine Beavers, MP for Blackpool North and Fleetwood, visited the site on Friday and said because the pipes were so deep underground and surrounded by electricity and gas it meant the excavation was “a big job”.

She posted on Facebook: “On top of that, the tide comes in twice a day and fills the excavated hole with sea water which has to be pumped out and disposed of properly.”

A United Utilities spokeswoman said: “We are investigating a burst that has occurred in Rossall, Lancashire.

“There are a number of deep pipes in the area and local conditions are challenging as the ground is extremely wet.

“We are excavating the site safely so we can examine the pipes and complete the necessary repairs as soon as possible.”

She added that engineers were working “24/7” on the excavation and “tankering plans” were in place to take sewage from the Fleetwood facility to other plants via HGVs.

The spokeswoman said the company was unable to confirm the reason for the leak “until all the pipework was safely exposed and investigations completed”.

She said services had not been impacted by the works and the company was keeping nearby residents informed of updates.

An Environment Agency spokesperson said: “We are on site and urgently investigating the burst pipe in Fleetwood.

“This includes gathering evidence to assess legal compliance and liaising with United Utilities to ensure work to minimise any impacts to people and the environment takes place as quickly as possible.”

In June 2023, United Utilities said untreated sewage, mixed with rainwater, was released from its water treatment plant in Fleetwood during a storm.

A pipe burst during a storm which led to the system being overwhelmed as 1.7 inches (44mm) of rain fell in two hours.

It led to people being told not to use Blackpool’s beaches or swim in the sea.