I
Ian Cloke
Guest
Water firm fined over fish deaths
A water company has been fined ?10,000 after a sewage leak polluted two ponds at a farm killing 585 fish.
Anglian Water pleaded guilty at Ipswich Magistrates' Court to causing the pollution at Cowpasture Farm in Felixstowe, Suffolk, in August 2004.
The court heard the firm had told an Environment Agency officer that no pipes were within 200m of the farm, which was not the case.
The water was found to have low levels of oxygen and raised ammonia levels.
'Regular checks'
Anglian Water pleaded guilty to causing trade or sewage effluent to be discharged into controlled waters.
The firm was also ordered to pay ?5,656 costs.
Environment Agency officer Nick Davis said: "This incident shows that sewer systems need to be subjected to regular checks."
He said firms also needed to ensure that they know the full extent of their system.
"Had these points been addressed, this incident, which resulted in the discharge of sewage and the deaths of nearly 600 fish, may not have occurred," he added.
A water company has been fined ?10,000 after a sewage leak polluted two ponds at a farm killing 585 fish.
Anglian Water pleaded guilty at Ipswich Magistrates' Court to causing the pollution at Cowpasture Farm in Felixstowe, Suffolk, in August 2004.
The court heard the firm had told an Environment Agency officer that no pipes were within 200m of the farm, which was not the case.
The water was found to have low levels of oxygen and raised ammonia levels.
'Regular checks'
Anglian Water pleaded guilty to causing trade or sewage effluent to be discharged into controlled waters.
The firm was also ordered to pay ?5,656 costs.
Environment Agency officer Nick Davis said: "This incident shows that sewer systems need to be subjected to regular checks."
He said firms also needed to ensure that they know the full extent of their system.
"Had these points been addressed, this incident, which resulted in the discharge of sewage and the deaths of nearly 600 fish, may not have occurred," he added.