Post by Hoppy on Aug 15, 2007 15:31:13 GMT -1
A pollution incident in the Ebbw Fach river has resulted in the death of an estimated 800 fish. The incident occurred on Sunday (12 August) between Abertillery and Six Bells. Initially only 30 dead fish, mainly trout were found but further investigations by Environment Agency Wales revealed the fish mortality was on a much greater scale than originally thought.
The pollutant is believed to be some form of detergent which has killed fish but left other wildlife and invertebrates unharmed. By the time it had reached Six Bells it had lost its power to kill, but had affected about a mile of the Ebbw Fach.
Agency Officers began investigations, following a report of dead fish received at 9:20 am on Sunday morning. When Environment Officers arrived at the scene there was visual evidence of a detergent-based pollution in the river. No source of the pollution could be found as the polluting discharge had stopped and could not be traced to a certain point.
Further investigations on Monday provided the information that an estimated 800 brown trout had been killed.
Agency Environment Officer, Ashley Lansdown said "We are appealing to local people for information and help in tracing the source of the pollution. Perhaps someone may have noticed something. If they did they can contact us on our emergency hotline 0800 80 70 60. Calls are free and will be treated in the strictest confidence.
"We have had similar incidents downstream on the River Ebbw at Crumlin in the recent past but were unable to find the source of the substance even with the help of the local authority in searching the drainage system."
During the late summers of 2003, 2004 and 2005 there were pollution incidents from the Crumlin Culvert on the River Ebbw, resulting in thousands of dead fish. Last year the Environment Agency began rigorous monitoring at two industrial estates that drain into the culvert and there have been no further pollution incidents to date.
The pollutant is believed to be some form of detergent which has killed fish but left other wildlife and invertebrates unharmed. By the time it had reached Six Bells it had lost its power to kill, but had affected about a mile of the Ebbw Fach.
Agency Officers began investigations, following a report of dead fish received at 9:20 am on Sunday morning. When Environment Officers arrived at the scene there was visual evidence of a detergent-based pollution in the river. No source of the pollution could be found as the polluting discharge had stopped and could not be traced to a certain point.
Further investigations on Monday provided the information that an estimated 800 brown trout had been killed.
Agency Environment Officer, Ashley Lansdown said "We are appealing to local people for information and help in tracing the source of the pollution. Perhaps someone may have noticed something. If they did they can contact us on our emergency hotline 0800 80 70 60. Calls are free and will be treated in the strictest confidence.
"We have had similar incidents downstream on the River Ebbw at Crumlin in the recent past but were unable to find the source of the substance even with the help of the local authority in searching the drainage system."
During the late summers of 2003, 2004 and 2005 there were pollution incidents from the Crumlin Culvert on the River Ebbw, resulting in thousands of dead fish. Last year the Environment Agency began rigorous monitoring at two industrial estates that drain into the culvert and there have been no further pollution incidents to date.