Post by Hoppy on Mar 15, 2007 19:24:06 GMT -1
At Neath Magistrates' Court yesterday (14 March) Dwr Cymru Welsh Water pleaded guilty to causing polluting matter, namely raw sewage, to enter the River Clydach, a tributary of the River Neath. They were fined £3,500 for the offence and ordered to pay costs of £400 to Environment Agency Wales who brought the prosecution.
The Court was told the Agency responded to a pollution incident on the River Clydach, at Bryncoch on 27July 2006 after a report was made by a member of the public. Agency Officers attended the site and found raw sewage running out of a collapsed foul sewer in the small woodland to the rear of Main Road, Bryncoch. The sewer was allowing sewage to run into the ground, flow down a steep bank and enter the River Clydach at several locations along the left bank.
The environmental impact of the incident was significant with sewage fungus covering the riverbed for a distance of at least 80 metres. Agency officers who attended saw that the river was a very grey colour and had a foul sewage smell.
Dwr Cymru Welsh Water contractors attended the site and put measures in place to prevent further pollution of the river until permanent structural improvements could be completed on the foul sewer. These measures included over-pumping at the Farmers Road Pumping Station, reducing the flow of sewage escaping. The defective pipework was repaired and replaced the following day.
Agency Environment Officer, Edward Bennett said after the case: "There was a similar incident at this location on September 2004. On this occasion we issued Dwr Cymru Welsh Water with a Formal Warning. This recent incident was not a 'one-off' and the effect on the environment was significant. It highlights the need for water companies to monitor the condition of their sewerage network to prevent this sort of incident."
The offence was contrary to Section 85(1) of the Water Resources Act 1991.
Anyone who sees pollution, illegal tipping of waste, poaching, fish in distress or danger to the natural environment can contact the Agency's emergency hotline on 0800 80 70 60. The hotline operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, calls are free and will be treated in the strictest confidence.
We are a Welsh Assembly Government sponsored public body protecting and improving the environment in Wales for present and future generations. We are responsible for managing flood risk, dealing with pollution incidents, reducing industry's impacts on the environment, cleaning up rivers, coastal waters and contaminated land, and improving wildlife habitats.
More information about the Agency is available on the world wide web - www.environment-agency.wales.gov.uk
The Court was told the Agency responded to a pollution incident on the River Clydach, at Bryncoch on 27July 2006 after a report was made by a member of the public. Agency Officers attended the site and found raw sewage running out of a collapsed foul sewer in the small woodland to the rear of Main Road, Bryncoch. The sewer was allowing sewage to run into the ground, flow down a steep bank and enter the River Clydach at several locations along the left bank.
The environmental impact of the incident was significant with sewage fungus covering the riverbed for a distance of at least 80 metres. Agency officers who attended saw that the river was a very grey colour and had a foul sewage smell.
Dwr Cymru Welsh Water contractors attended the site and put measures in place to prevent further pollution of the river until permanent structural improvements could be completed on the foul sewer. These measures included over-pumping at the Farmers Road Pumping Station, reducing the flow of sewage escaping. The defective pipework was repaired and replaced the following day.
Agency Environment Officer, Edward Bennett said after the case: "There was a similar incident at this location on September 2004. On this occasion we issued Dwr Cymru Welsh Water with a Formal Warning. This recent incident was not a 'one-off' and the effect on the environment was significant. It highlights the need for water companies to monitor the condition of their sewerage network to prevent this sort of incident."
The offence was contrary to Section 85(1) of the Water Resources Act 1991.
Anyone who sees pollution, illegal tipping of waste, poaching, fish in distress or danger to the natural environment can contact the Agency's emergency hotline on 0800 80 70 60. The hotline operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, calls are free and will be treated in the strictest confidence.
We are a Welsh Assembly Government sponsored public body protecting and improving the environment in Wales for present and future generations. We are responsible for managing flood risk, dealing with pollution incidents, reducing industry's impacts on the environment, cleaning up rivers, coastal waters and contaminated land, and improving wildlife habitats.
More information about the Agency is available on the world wide web - www.environment-agency.wales.gov.uk