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United Utilities · overflow UUP00720

No active event

River Ribble

Recorded by the operator as River Ribble Estuary.

The monitor for overflow UUP00720 (operator listed as United Utilities) reports no current spill. The data records 1 spill events totalling 3 min in the last 30 days.

📍 53.72646°, -3.00542°

Spill record· since 6 May 2026

7

spill events

1h

cumulative discharge

40 min

longest single event

2026-08-20

first event on record

In the last 30 days this overflow recorded 0h of discharge. Across United Utilities's 2,263 monitored overflows the median was 0h. This site is below the operator's median for the period.

On the River Ribble Estuary· 3 other overflows

3 other overflows discharge into the River Ribble Estuary. Combined recorded discharge in the last 30 days: 11h.

All overflows recorded on this watercourse →

Recent spill events· last 30 days

Rainfall comes from the nearest Environment Agency rain gauge within 10 km, using 15-minute readings rolled into hourly totals. Where a gauge is further away, or too many readings are missing, we say so rather than guess. Rain figures do not show whether a discharge was permitted; that is a matter for the regulator. How we keep the record.

The operator's own annual returns· 2024 to 2025

What the water company itself reported to the Environment Agency’s annual returns for this overflow, year by year. Hours are the total reported discharge duration; monitor working is the share of the year the event monitor was operating (a figure of 0% may mean no usable monitoring data rather than no spills). These figures are the operator's own reporting, not our measurement, and our live record above begins on 6 May 2026.

YearSpills countedHoursMonitor workingMatched by
2024916h98%hub id
202555h89%hub id

2024, the operator's stated reason: "High spill threshold not met"

2025, the operator's stated reason: "High spill threshold not met"

Source: Environment Agency, Event Duration Monitoring storm overflow annual returns, all years. Matched to this overflow by hub id.

How we keep the record.

Rain at the nearest gauge· 1.4 km away

The nearest Environment Agency rain gauge, Fairhaven, is 1.4 km from this overflow. It has no hourly totals on record for the last 48 hours.

Day (UTC)Rain
17 Sept 20263.8 mm
16 Sept 20262.2 mm
17 Aug 202614.0 mm
23 Jun 20264.2 mm
22 Jun 20260.0 mm

Rainfall comes from 15-minute Environment Agency readings rolled into hourly and daily totals. The gauge is 1.4 km from this overflow, so it may not match the rain at the site itself, and the latest day may be incomplete. Rain figures do not show whether a discharge was permitted; that is a matter for the regulator. How we keep the record.

Nearby water quality· 6 sampling points within 5 km

  • NW-88003595 · SALINE WATER - ESTUARINE SITES - NON BATHING/SHELLFISH

    RIBBLE ESTUARY AT 11TH MILE POST

    1.2 km away

    No swimmer-relevant measurements available.

  • NW-88003594 · SALINE WATER - ESTUARINE SITES - NON BATHING/SHELLFISH

    RIBBLE ESTUARY AT 10TH MILE POST

    1.3 km away

    No swimmer-relevant measurements available.

  • NW-88015010 · SALINE WATER - COASTAL SITES - NON BATHING/SHELLFISH

    FAIRHAVEN LAKE LYTHAM

    1.4 km away

    No swimmer-relevant measurements available.

  • NW-88022376 · SALINE WATER - COASTAL SITES - NON BATHING/SHELLFISH

    R RIBBLE AT LYTHAM

    1.9 km away

    No swimmer-relevant measurements available.

  • NW-88025815 · FRESHWATER - RIVERS

    LIGGARD BROOK U/S BALLAM ROAD PS

    3.3 km away · last tested 12 days ago

    • ✓Intestinal Enterococci140 CFU/0.1l
  • NW-88009849 · SALINE WATER - DESIGNATED BATHING BEACHES

    ST.ANNES AT ST.ANNES PIERFYLDE MBC (41800)

    3.4 km away · last tested 6 weeks ago

    • ✓Intestinal Enterococci100 CFU/0.1l
    • ✓Water temperature16.4 CEL

Take action

The record above is verifiable from public Environment Agency and water-company data. Three official accountability channels — pre-filled with the evidence on this page.

Are you here right now?

If you can see foam, sewage debris, dead fish, or smell something wrong — submit a citizen report. Confirmed reports are added to the Truth Engine and strengthen the public record on this overflow.

📷 Report what you saw →

1. Complain to United Utilities

The official complaints route. Most companies require submission through their web form rather than email — open the form, then paste the pre-filled letter.

Preview the letter
Subject: Storm overflow UUP00720 on the River Ribble Estuary: request for information

Dear United Utilities,

I am writing about storm overflow UUP00720 on the River Ribble Estuary.

Environment Agency storm overflow monitoring data for overflow UUP00720 on the River Ribble Estuary (operator listed as United Utilities) records 1 spill event starting between 17 September 2026 and 17 October 2026, totalling 3 min. The most recent recorded event started on 22 September 2026 at 09:07 UTC.

As of 17 October 2026 at 22:23 UTC, the monitor does not report the overflow as spilling.

Further details from the public record:
- On the River Ribble, per the OS Open Rivers network (Ordnance Survey, Open Government Licence)
- Location: 53.72646, -3.00542
- Sources: Environment Agency National Storm Overflow Hub and Water Quality Archive (Open Government Licence v3.0), cross-referenced via River Truth (https://rivertruth.co.uk/overflow/12754)

These figures are taken from public monitoring data as published and may be revised by the publisher. They are not a finding that any permit condition has been breached.

[Add your personal context here, for example how you use this stretch of water.]

Please could you tell me:
1. Whether the monitoring record summarised above is accurate and complete
2. What caused the recorded spill events
3. What work, if any, is planned at this overflow, and on what timeline
4. What measures are in place to reduce spills from this overflow in future

[Delete if not applicable: I have copied the Environment Agency, Ofwat and my MP into this correspondence.]

Yours faithfully,
[Your name]
[Your address]
[Your customer reference if you are a United Utilities customer]

2. Write to the MP for this stretch

This overflow sits in the Fylde constituency — currently represented by Mr Andrew Snowden (Conservative). Click below to open WriteToThem with the letter copied to your clipboard — paste it into the message box.

Or write to your own MP instead

Prefer to write to the MP for where you live? Enter your postcode and we'll redirect WriteToThem accordingly.

Preview the letter
Subject: Constituent query: storm overflow UUP00720 on the River Ribble Estuary

Dear [your MP, WriteToThem will fill this in],

I am writing as your constituent about public storm overflow monitoring data for our area.

Environment Agency storm overflow monitoring data for overflow UUP00720 on the River Ribble Estuary (operator listed as United Utilities) records 1 spill event starting between 17 September 2026 and 17 October 2026, totalling 3 min. The most recent recorded event started on 22 September 2026 at 09:07 UTC.

As of 17 October 2026 at 22:23 UTC, the monitor does not report the overflow as spilling.

Further details from the public record:
- On the River Ribble, per the OS Open Rivers network (Ordnance Survey, Open Government Licence)
- Location: 53.72646, -3.00542
- Sources: Environment Agency National Storm Overflow Hub and Water Quality Archive (Open Government Licence v3.0), cross-referenced via River Truth (https://rivertruth.co.uk/overflow/12754)

These figures are taken from public monitoring data as published and may be revised by the publisher. They are not a finding that any permit condition has been breached.

[Add your personal context here, for example how you and your family use this stretch of water.]

I would like to ask:
1. Whether you support strengthening the regulatory regime for storm overflows, and monitor coverage in particular
2. Whether you would raise the monitoring data for this overflow with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Environment Agency or Ofwat

Yours sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address (WriteToThem requires a postal address to verify your constituency)]

MP details are looked up live from the UK Parliament Members API under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0. River Truth makes no claim about this MP's voting or advocacy record on water issues — they are shown solely as the elected representative for this constituency.

3. Report to the Environment Agency

For active pollution incidents — dead fish, foam, sewage on the riverbank — the EA hotline operates 24/7 and triggers a recorded investigation.

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