Thought to have started in the Rectory Lane area of Radcliffe, the contamination in the River Irwell spread downstream in large quantities, pictures first showed on Saturday, August 8. Bury councillor Ken Simpson, who represents the Radcliffe East ward, said he suspects the spill to be an ‘organised dump’ due to the ‘sheer quantity’ of the substance, along with reports of it increasing and decreasing at different times of day.
The Environment Agency said it is investigating the source of the substance and has ‘taken samples for analysis’. United Utilities, which is responsible for water and waste water services in the region, said the spill was not coming from its network.
No chemical smell
Coun Simpson, who is a member of the Radcliffe First party on Bury council, reported there was ‘no strong chemical smell’ in the area, saying a senior United Utilities officer called out to the site ‘suspected it could be a waste milk dump’.
He said:
I’ve just been to the location of what appears to be a spillage of an unidentified substance into the River Irwell alongside the new footbridge on Rectory Lane. United Utilities are on scene but have already confirmed it isn’t one of their outlets but a private drain from one of Radcliffe’s ancient “goits” which now run beneath local housing.
Due to the sheer quantity of whatever this substance is and that we have had reports of it increasing and decreasing at different times of day it appears to be an organised dump of some kind […]
The spillage has immediately diffused into the downstream river completely changing its colour to a milky green colour. I know this is obvious but my advice is to keep children and pets out of the water downstream until we have confirmation it is safe.
Residents say this is not the first time unidentified substances have contaminated the waters in that area. One person said spills ‘happen a lot there’, adding this incident ‘looked very big’.
Another added: “It’s just awful, even if it’s ‘just’ milk it will have a massive impact and strip the affected area of oxygen. Britain’s rivers are in a terrible state.”
Environment Agency: Second incident in two months
The Environment Agency confirmed it received a report of a similar incident last month.
A spokesman for the organisation said:
We take our role in cleaning up our rivers, lakes and seas seriously. We are investigating the source of this white substance and have also taken samples for analysis.
Any suspected pollution incidents should be reported as soon as possible to our 24/7 hotline on 0800 80 70 60, or online.
United Utilities: it’s not us
A United Utilities spokesman said:
“Following reports of pollution in the River Irwell in Radcliffe on Saturday, our teams inspected our assets and confirmed the substance was not linked to our network.”
By Local Democracy Reporter Hannah Richardson.
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