Burst pipe forces closure of Fleetwood sewage treatment plant – BBC

Report on Wastewater Infrastructure Failure in Lancashire and Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Executive Summary

This report details two separate incidents impacting wastewater management in Lancashire, managed by United Utilities. The first involves a critical infrastructure failure resulting in the precautionary shutdown of the Fleetwood Wastewater Treatment Works. The second concerns the discharge of untreated sewage into the sea following extreme weather. These events highlight significant challenges to achieving several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 14 (Life Below Water).

2.0 Incident Analysis

2.1 Infrastructure Failure at Rossall

A major pipe burst occurred underground at the junction of The Strand and Broadway in Rossall, leading to the temporary suspension of operations at the Fleetwood Wastewater Treatment Works as a precautionary measure. This incident directly impacts the operational capacity of sanitation infrastructure, a core component of SDG 6.

• Event: An underground pipe burst, causing a sinkhole and localized flooding.
• Response: United Utilities initiated an investigation, involving complex excavation of deep pipes amid challenging ground conditions and proximity to other utilities.
• Mitigation: To maintain sanitation services and support SDG 11’s goal of resilient communities, contingency plans involving the tankering of sewage to alternative treatment facilities were enacted.

2.2 Storm-Related Sewage Discharge

In a separate event, intense rainfall from Storm Claudia overwhelmed the wastewater system, leading to the discharge of untreated sewage into the sea along the Fylde coast. This highlights the vulnerability of existing infrastructure to climate-related events, a key concern for SDG 13.

1. The discharge was confirmed by United Utilities as a direct result of extreme weather, not the pipe burst.
2. This event represents a direct failure to meet Target 6.3 of the SDGs, which aims to halve the proportion of untreated wastewater and improve ambient water quality.
3. Such discharges pose a significant threat to marine ecosystems, directly contravening the objectives of SDG 14 (Life Below Water) to reduce marine pollution from land-based activities.

3.0 Historical Context and Recurring Challenges

The recent incidents are not isolated. In June 2023, a similar event occurred when a pipe burst during a storm, leading to sewage release and a public health advisory against using Blackpool’s beaches. This pattern indicates a recurring challenge in maintaining resilient infrastructure (SDG 9) capable of withstanding the impacts of climate change (SDG 13).

4.0 Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

The events in Lancashire underscore critical vulnerabilities in relation to the following SDGs:

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: The shutdown of a treatment plant and the release of untreated sewage directly compromise the goal of ensuring safe and sustainable water and sanitation for all.
• SDG 14: Life Below Water: The discharge of pollutants into the sea poses a direct threat to marine biodiversity and the health of coastal ecosystems.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The failure of essential infrastructure highlights the need for more resilient urban systems to protect residents and the environment.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure: The incidents reveal the urgent need for investment in upgrading and maintaining quality, reliable, and sustainable infrastructure.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: The system’s inability to cope with intense rainfall demonstrates a lack of resilience to climate-related hazards, emphasizing the need for climate adaptation in infrastructure planning.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  This goal is central to the article, which discusses the failure of a wastewater treatment plant, a burst sewage pipe, and the subsequent discharge of untreated sewage. The entire incident revolves around the management of sanitation and water quality.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The article highlights the impact of failing infrastructure on a local community. The burst pipe caused “flooding in gardens in Rossall, Lancashire,” directly affecting residents and demonstrating a lack of resilient infrastructure, which is a key component of sustainable communities.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  The article explicitly links the discharge of untreated sewage to “intense rain” from “Storm Claudia.” This connects the infrastructure’s failure to an extreme weather event, highlighting the need for systems to be resilient to the impacts of climate change, a core focus of SDG 13.

• SDG 14: Life Below Water

  The discharge of “untreated sewage… in a number of locations including the sea around the Fylde coast” is a direct form of land-based pollution that harms marine ecosystems. This directly relates to the goal of protecting and preserving life below water.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 6.3: Improve water quality by reducing pollution

   This target aims to improve water quality by “halving the proportion of untreated wastewater.” The article describes the exact opposite scenario, where a system failure led to “untreated sewage being discharged,” directly undermining this target.

2. Target 11.5: Reduce the impact of disasters on people and property

   This target focuses on reducing the number of people affected by disasters, including water-related ones. The burst pipe and subsequent “flooding in gardens” represent a localized, water-related disaster that has directly impacted residents and their property.

3. Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience to climate-related hazards

   This target calls for strengthening resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related disasters. The article notes that “intense rain” from a storm led to the system being “overwhelmed,” indicating a lack of resilience in the wastewater infrastructure to handle climate-related hazards.

4. Target 14.1: Reduce marine pollution

   This target aims to “prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities.” The release of untreated sewage “into the sea” is a clear example of land-based pollution that this target seeks to eliminate.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator for Target 6.3 (Proportion of wastewater safely treated)

  The article implies a negative measure for this indicator. The statement about “untreated sewage being discharged” indicates a failure in the treatment process. The proportion of safely treated wastewater from this facility dropped significantly, which can be measured to track progress (or lack thereof) towards this target.

• Indicator for Target 11.5 (Number of people affected by disasters)

  The article implies this indicator by mentioning that “residents reported flooding in gardens.” The number of households or individuals affected by this flooding serves as a direct indicator of the disaster’s impact on the community.

• Indicator for Target 14.1 (Level of marine pollution)

  The article provides a qualitative indicator of marine pollution. The confirmation that “untreated sewage” was discharged “into the sea around the Fylde coast” is a direct measure of a pollution event. This could be quantified by measuring the volume and content of the discharge to track pollution levels over time.

• Indicator for Target 13.1 (Resilience of infrastructure)

  The event itself serves as an indicator. The fact that the system was “overwhelmed” by “intense rain” demonstrates a vulnerability in the infrastructure. The frequency of such failures due to weather events can be used as an indicator to measure the system’s resilience and adaptive capacity.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: bbc.com