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United Utilities’ engineers are working ‘round the clock’ to save damaged treatment works in High Peak, the organisation stated yesterday.
The damage occurred last week when the influx of high strength effluent began to prevent the plant from treating local wastewater.
This is now causing problems for local residents who have complained about the bad smells coming from the plant.
As this is the second time this summer that this sort of damage has occurred at the site, United Utilities is now working with the Environment Agency (EA) to investigate the problem, but the problem has not occurred at other sites.
United Utilities had already been in touch with the EA after the initial problems to voice their concerns.
Area manager David Frain said that the damage may well have been caused by waste that was toxic or too strong, which the plant is unable to process properly, and emphasised that “strict regulations” generally prevent this.
Short term solutions include a temporary odour control rig which will use masking spray to neutralise the smell. In the long-term, this issue will be addressed by a permanent odour control system.
Frain added: “The works is really sick at the moment and we are working hard to help it recover as quickly as possible… Unfortunately, until the process recovers there are likely to be more smells than usual and we do apologise to all our neighbours about this.”
An EA spokesperson also emphasised their commitment to finding a solution: “We will continue to work with United Utilities to establish the cause of the problem.”
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