WHITEHAVEN and Workington MP Josh MacAlister met with the minister of water to discuss the current state of the harbour water. 

The West Cumbrian MP is part of a team involving various organisations that are aiming to improve the condition of the water in Queens Dock, Whitehaven. 

Mr MacAlister has taken further steps to do this by meeting with the minister for water. 

In a post on social media, Josh MacAlister wrote: "I met with the Minister for Water yesterday to discuss the orange water in Whitehaven Harbour. 

"I asked her to help me to convene a cross-government taskforce, bringing together officials from all the relevant departments to help us find a solution, which she agreed to.

"I hope this will help us to make progress."

READ MORE: Details on Whitehaven Harbour water clean up explained

The Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners announced last week that they were looking at 'potential treatments' to improve the water. 

These solutions range from equipment to remove suspended solids using chemicals to those that specialise in aeration technology.

The discoloured water started to enter the Queen's Dock area of the harbour in the winter of 2022. 

READ MORE: Whitehaven Harbour: 'Potential treatments' could fix water issue

The water enters the harbour through a culvert that leads from Bransty Beck through Bransty Railway Tunnel. 

The water has signs of iron ochre present, which is because of the coal that is found in the ground at Bransty tunnel. 

Local authorities are working together in an effort to find a solution to the ongoing situation.