Taking action in Cartmel
We have accelerated £1.5 million worth of investment to reduce spills and improve water quality in the River Eea, though rapid work at two locations in the area.
We have transformed the existing pumping station at Cark, behind the train station, into a self-contained wastewater treatment works. This means the wastewater that used to come into the pumping station, which was pumped uphill to Grange-over-Sands, is now biologically treated to the highest standards in Cark before being safely returned to the environment.
We have also added additional treatment processes to remove phosphorous as well as screens that will help to reduce any visual impact of discharges when they do occur.
As a result of these changes, we have also freed up capacity at our treatment works in Grange-over-Sands, meaning we’re able to treat more wastewater here and reduce spills to the environment.
We’re continuing to explore a longer-term solution for the area. We’re now conducting infiltration and groundwater surveys that will help to inform our plans and we’ll also be taking other factors into account including Cartmel’s geology, recent persistent rainfall and the draw of tourists to Cartmel which can put additional strain on the network for short periods of time. Any solution will make the area resilient to future challenges.
Water sampling at the treatment works continues and we’ll be sharing these results with the Environment Agency as we work together on the permanent solution for Cartmel.