The Environment Agency (EA) has secured £517,000 from United Utilities after three permit breaches led to a substantial amount of sewage being discharged into the River Tame.
The agreement is part of a record £8.5 million paid by water companies into environmental restoration projects across the country. It is part of a strengthened crackdown on pollution and poor performance across the sector, a 47% increase on the year before.
United Utilities made the Enforcement Undertaking offer following a detailed investigation by the Environment Agency into the incidents, which occurred due to a faulty tank. This was subsequently fixed.
The company has also agreed to reimburse all EA investigation costs.
The cash will go to Mersey Rivers Trust to improve the environmental health of rivers in the region.
Andy Brown, Environment Agency Water Industry Regulation Manager said:
Water companies must be held to account, and we will continue to prosecute the most serious offenders, but Enforcement Undertakings allow companies to correct their wrongdoings and put money straight back into environmental recovery.
This £517,000 million will be invested in Tameside and help deliver real benefits for residents and wildlife.
We are continuing to drive meaningful improvements in water company performance, clean up the waterways and crackdown on persistent offenders.
