A CONSERVATIONIST is putting up warning signs at a dale beauty spot after human waste was twice discharged into a nearby beck.
Martin Bacon, of Teesdale Conservation Volunteers (TCV), said sewage from a Northumbrian Water’s pumping station, near Startforth, overflowed during heavy rain on Friday, October 21, and again on Sunday, October 23.
The discharge was directed into Deepdale Beck, which then fed into the River Tees.
Northumbrian Water said the discharge was heavily diluted and only a small portion was sewage. Deepdale is a favourite area among walkers and dog owners, and is also home to a forest school.
Mr Bacon said the pumping station, which is next door to TCV’s composting site, overflows regularly when there is heavy rain.
He added: “Both of their tanks just bubble over. Grey sewage water pours straight into the beck. We have put up with it for years and it is getting worse. It is not acceptable.” He was particularly concerned about the health of people who use the area.
Mr Bacon said: “People are throwing sticks and their dogs are in [the beck] all the time.”
A spokesperson from Northumbrian Water said the discharge during heavy rain is largely rainwater, “mixed with some heavily diluted contents of our sewer network”.
The spokesperson added: “This happens in order to protect customers’ homes from the risk of sewer flooding, acting as a relief valve on our network, and this is carried out with permission from the Environment Agency.
“Studies in the region have shown the contents of these discharges to be as little as less than one percent wastewater.”
An Environment Agency spokesperson said: “Following a report of potential sewage discharged from a sewage pumping station into Deepdale Beck, near Startforth, our officers are working with Northumbrian Water to investigate.
“Where there are any incidents of unauthorised sewage discharges, we will not hesitate to take the appropriate enforcement action. We would encourage members of the public to continue to report signs of pollution to our 24/7 incident hotline on 0800 807060.”
