Post by Hoppy on Jun 20, 2006 16:18:21 GMT -1
Welsh Water fined over Broad Haven pollution incident
Dwr Cymru Welsh Water has been fined £4,000 for causing sewage effluent to enter coastal waters off Broad Haven Beach in Pembrokeshire, an offence contrary to Section 85(3) of the
Water Resources Act 1991. The company, which pleaded guilty to the offence at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on Monday 19 June 2006 was also ordered to pay costs of £2,752 to Environment Agency Wales who brought the prosecution.
The Court was told that on 28 July 2005 an Agency Officer investigated a complaint that sewage was being discharged to the beach at Broad Haven. He found discoloured water
discharging from an outlet in the sea wall, there were items of sewage debris including faeces on the beach and a distinct smell of sewage. The discharge crossed the beach and eventually flowed into the bathing waters off the beach.
The outfall in question is connected to the surface water drainage system in Broad Haven and is designed so that at times of heavy rain when that drainage system has reached capacity clean surface water is discharged onto the beach. The surface water pipe also connects to the foul sewer and during improvements carried out to the sewage system in Broad Haven in 1998 the Agency had advised the Company to seal the pipe where it connected into the sewer.
On the day in question heavy rainfall caused the sewage system in Broad Haven to become overloaded. As a result sewage effluent backed up the sewer and as no bung was present
both surface water and sewage effluent discharged to the beach through the outfall.
It was said on behalf of the company that it was believed that a bung had been inserted in the pipe by contractors during the improvements carried out in 1998 and that it appeared to
have been removed by an unknown third party or become dislodged during the ensuing period.
Speaking after the case Ben Williams, an Environment Officer with Environment Agency Wales said: ‘ We are pleased with this conviction as it is important to protect one of Pembrokeshire’s valuable assets, its fine bathing water beaches. Broad Haven recently achieved the prestigious Blue Flag award, which demonstrates high standards, important to both the tourist industry and the local community.’
Dwr Cymru Welsh Water at it again!
Dwr Cymru Welsh Water has been fined £4,000 for causing sewage effluent to enter coastal waters off Broad Haven Beach in Pembrokeshire, an offence contrary to Section 85(3) of the
Water Resources Act 1991. The company, which pleaded guilty to the offence at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on Monday 19 June 2006 was also ordered to pay costs of £2,752 to Environment Agency Wales who brought the prosecution.
The Court was told that on 28 July 2005 an Agency Officer investigated a complaint that sewage was being discharged to the beach at Broad Haven. He found discoloured water
discharging from an outlet in the sea wall, there were items of sewage debris including faeces on the beach and a distinct smell of sewage. The discharge crossed the beach and eventually flowed into the bathing waters off the beach.
The outfall in question is connected to the surface water drainage system in Broad Haven and is designed so that at times of heavy rain when that drainage system has reached capacity clean surface water is discharged onto the beach. The surface water pipe also connects to the foul sewer and during improvements carried out to the sewage system in Broad Haven in 1998 the Agency had advised the Company to seal the pipe where it connected into the sewer.
On the day in question heavy rainfall caused the sewage system in Broad Haven to become overloaded. As a result sewage effluent backed up the sewer and as no bung was present
both surface water and sewage effluent discharged to the beach through the outfall.
It was said on behalf of the company that it was believed that a bung had been inserted in the pipe by contractors during the improvements carried out in 1998 and that it appeared to
have been removed by an unknown third party or become dislodged during the ensuing period.
Speaking after the case Ben Williams, an Environment Officer with Environment Agency Wales said: ‘ We are pleased with this conviction as it is important to protect one of Pembrokeshire’s valuable assets, its fine bathing water beaches. Broad Haven recently achieved the prestigious Blue Flag award, which demonstrates high standards, important to both the tourist industry and the local community.’
Dwr Cymru Welsh Water at it again!