A faulty valve at a pumping station has led to sewage being discharged into a Cumbrian river.
The incident happened on Wednesday July 8 last week, on a stretch of the River Eden, in Appleby, during routine maintenance being carried out by the Environment Agency.
Videos and images that appear to show sewage entering the river have circulated widely on social media.
But the Environment Agency has said it cannot accurately verify if the footage is connected to the spill.
A spokesman for the Environment Agency said: “During routine maintenance at our pumping station, a faulty valve led to a small sewage discharge into the River Eden.
“We took immediate action to stop the discharge and are continuing to monitor the river and to minimise any environmental risk.
“We are also investigating so we can take steps to ensure this does not happen again.
“If people have pollution concerns they should call our 24/7 hotline on 0800 807060.”
The pumping station is normally operated during high rainfall events to prevent 54 homes in Appleby from flooding when elevated water levels in the River Eden submerge the outfall from a United Utilities combined sewer.
Under these conditions, the station prevents sewage from backing up and flooding upstream properties, reducing flood risk to homes in Appleby.
Cumbria Crack spoke with United Utilities who said the incident is not related to their operations or assets.
Westmorland and Furness Council said it is not responsible for investigating water pollution incidents.
The Environment Agency is the national regulator and primary body for investigating pollution incidents in rivers and watercourses.
