An update has been issued by Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners about the town’s orange water.
The organisation said it knew the community had lost patience – and it was ‘desperate’ to see an end to everyone’s frustrations.
It said that members of the harbour water task force had been speaking to manufacturers of potential treatment options for the water.
The task force is due to meet next month.
The commissioners said: “Solutions range from equipment to remove suspended solids using chemicals to those that specialise in aeration technology.
“They are carrying out further research to determine which option could work best on the type of contamination we have.
Each specialist organisation that members of the task force members are talking to, needs complex data and tests to be carried out. They must also find out what, if any, approvals and licences are needed for each of the proposed solutions.
“Although any of the suggested treatments should help, they may not completely fix the problem. But they will be quicker to implement than waiting for someone with the power and resources to trace the original source.
“As the ongoing victims of this pollution, we want action on these ideas now, even if that means we only get a partial fix. Going with a partial fix comes with its own challenges, though.”
It said that at the moment, the contaminated water was being released into the sea every day through our sea lock, without anyone facing environmental penalties.
However, once equipment to treat the water was introduced, it said, it would be regarded as a manual intervention.
it added: “If we do not remove all traces of contamination from the water and then continue to release it after treatment, we risk hefty fines. We must only put clean water back into the harbour. We’d also need a licence for waste removal, and some contaminated wastes cannot be licensed.
“Any solution will still need funding for the installation and ongoing maintenance.”
The commissioners added that Whitehaven & Workington MP Josh MacAlister has had initial talks in Westminster about funding options.
But, it said, before he can take these further, he needs specific data about the water, the impact on the harbour community and wider town and details of proposed solutions.
The commissioners added: “Task force members are helping him to collate all of the information he needs. Once he has that, we hope he will be in a position to put together a strong case for funding.
“Many of you have asked why the polluters aren’t paying to clean up the contaminated water. Investigations into the cause have so far been inconclusive and remain difficult due to the size of the area under scrutiny, with so many pockets of land owned by different people. It could take years to get a definitive answer.
“At this stage, no single organisation can be held responsible for fixing it. We know of no legal framework that would force any of the agencies or regulators to pay.
“Although there is no immediate fix in sight, we do feel like we’re getting there, albeit incredibly slowly. The task force is next due to meet in mid-December, at which point, we will know a little bit more. In the meantime, we’ll keep fighting on your behalf, as much as we can within our limited resources and powers.”
Why is Whitehaven Harbour’s water orange?
No one source has been identified for the orange colour of the water – but there are safety concerns around it.
People are being warned to avoid paddling, ingesting the water and eating mussels found on the hulls of boats in the harbour.
The Clean Rivers Trust – part of a task force aiming to fix the harbour water – said it was due to iron hydroxides coating the harbour floor. While not poisonous to humans, it should be avoided.
The charity has also found the water to be harmful to crustaceans living in the sediments and said it would become a problem for the fish in the harbour over time, as it would remove their food source.
While experts have said the contaminated water won’t harm the wider water quality or flora or fauna in the area around the harbour, regulators are monitoring the situation.
