Burst Pipe Shuts Down Sewage Plant, Triggering Untreated Discharge

As of November 15th, 2025, a sewage treatment plant in Fleetwood, Lancashire has been temporarily shut down after an underground pipe burst, leading to flooding in nearby gardens. The incident was first reported by residents in the Rossall area, prompting United Utilities, the water firm responsible for the plant, to suspend operations as a precaution.

The company stated that the leak was contained within a few hours on Wednesday, but engineers are now excavating the site and examining a number of deep pipes at the junction of The Strand and Broadway to determine the exact cause. The challenging conditions, including extremely wet ground, have made the repair work a significant undertaking.

Compounding the issue, United Utilities also confirmed that intense rain on Friday due to Storm Claudia led to untreated sewage being discharged in several locations, including the sea around the Fylde coast. This discharge was not directly related to the burst pipe, but rather a result of the system being overwhelmed by the heavy rainfall.

Lorraine Beavers, the MP for Blackpool North and Fleetwood, visited the site and noted the complexity of the excavation due to the depth of the pipes and the presence of electricity and gas infrastructure in the area. She also mentioned that the tide coming in twice a day has been filling the excavated hole with seawater, which needs to be properly pumped out and disposed of.

United Utilities has assured that services have not been impacted by the works and that they are keeping nearby residents informed of the ongoing updates. The company is also implementing "tankering plans" to transport sewage from the Fleetwood facility to other plants via HGVs while the repairs are underway.