Roach and bream numbering about 1400 have been found dead in ahalf mile stretch of the Kennet and Avon canal near the Wharf abovethe town bridge in Devizes.
Scientific analysis of the water and checks of nearby industrialsites have found no cause for the pollution and the EA is appealingto people to come forward with any information that could help.
The canal had returned to normal the following day with survivingfish showing no signs of distress. Then the EA heard that more deadfish had been found on the same stretch, and EA officers foundanother 1000 small fish had succumbed to the pollutant, and thisexactly one week after the original incident.
A toxic discharge is the most likely cause, but the Agency is alsolooking at the possibility that algae and bacteria in the canal maybe causing the fatalities.
“”We have looked for the presence of sewage and any industrialchemicals and are now looking at the possibility that bacteria andalgae in the water could be the cause.” Said Laurence Mathew,for the Environment Agency.
“”We are asking local people to keep an eye out for anything out ofthe ordinary in the water and report it to us as quickly aspossible.””
The Environment Agency’s free 24 hour incident hotline is 0800 8070 60.
More here: This is Wiltshire