Riddle of river ‘scum’
ANGER OVER ‘SCANDAL’ OF BROWN MATTER COVERING WATER
THERE’S a mystery right next to Manchester’s inner ring road – and it’s kicking up a stink.
A patch of brown ‘scum’ has been spotted in the River Medlock near Pin Mill Brow.
David Bailey first noticed the patch of unsightly matter earlier this week.
He also noticed that there’s been a build-up of flotsam in the river screen, adding to the untidiness.
However, after the M.E.N. asked the relevant authorities about the ‘scum,’ its cause has not been identified.
“It’s a complete scandal,” Mr Bailey said. “There are good things happening there [with nature] but it’s blighted by fly-tipping and sewage. It’s just before the river gets to Mayfield Park and underneath Great Ancoats Street. It’s a huge area of land that no one uses.” David says he believed the dirt was caused by sewage, specifically two combined sewage overflows (CSOs) at ‘Clayton Bridge and Lumb Brook.’ However, United Utilities say the issue is not sewage and its machinery is working normally – with it being called ‘scum.’ “We have checked our infrastructure in the area and our data monitoring systems to understand the performance of the sewers in the area,” a spokesperson for the water company said. “The sewer system has been operating as it should and the local storm overflows have not needed to operate recently. There appears to be a build up of rubbish on the screen in the river which is slowing its flow and we have been liaising with the Environment Agency in recent months regarding getting it cleaned.” An Environment Agency spokesperson added that members of the public can ‘report any environmental concerns to the Environment Agency hotline 0800 807060.’