In a move that will surprise absolutely no one who has ever dipped a toe in British coastal waters, United Utilities has been fined nearly £1m for illegally discharging raw sewage into the Lancashire coastline, treating seaside holiday spots like Blackpool to an impromptu, unsanitary splash. The water company pleaded guilty to five environmental permit offences related to a pollution incident along the Fylde coast in June 2023, and was ordered by Preston magistrates court on Tuesday to pay £964,225 in fines and costs.

For more than 35 hours over several days in June 2023, sewage was released from pumping stations at Manchester Square, Anchorsholme, and Chatsworth Avenue, affecting coastal communities in Blackpool, Lytham St Annes, Fleetwood, and Cleveleys. The Environment Agency, in a move that likely ruined more than a few beach picnics, issued 'no bathing' advice for all eight designated bathing waters along the affected coastline. United Utilities' own modelling showed that a sewage plume had reached seven bathing waters and significantly affected water quality. Communities and businesses along the coast were impacted significantly by the contamination, with Blackpool alone seeing summer visitor numbers fall by hundreds of thousands compared with the previous year. Because nothing says 'family holiday' like the scent of raw sewage and the threat of E coli.

Sewage was reported on beaches and at marine recreational facilities, including Fleetwood baths, while tests indicated the presence of E coli. Three shellfish beds were temporarily closed because of concerns about public health, likely putting a damper on the local oyster economy.

The incident began after a partial collapse of a final effluent pipe at Fleetwood wastewater treatment works reduced the amount of sewage the site could receive, causing wastewater to back up through the network. After rainfall, sewage was discharged from the three pumping stations. An Environment Agency investigation found that conditions required under United Utilities' environmental permits had not been met. The company accepted the incident's classification in category one, the agency's most serious level, which is corporate-speak for 'we really messed up'.

Andy Brown, the Environment Agency's water regulation manager, said: 'This was an unacceptable pollution incident which had far-reaching consequences for residents and businesses along the Fylde coast. Our investigation found that United Utilities Water Ltd discharged sewage outside the conditions of its environmental permits. The company admitted those breaches, and today's record fine reflects the seriousness of the offences and the harm caused.'

Chris Borradaile, director for wastewater services at United Utilities, said: 'We want to reiterate our sincere and unreserved apologies for this incident and the harm and disruption it caused.' He added: 'We accept responsibility for what happened and recognise that we fell short of the standards our customers and communities rightly expect.' We're sure the residents of Blackpool will find this apology as comforting as a sewage-free swim.