I
Ian Cloke
Guest
Wessex Water was ordered to pay ?3,930 in fines and costs after letting sewage be discharged from one of its combined sewer overflow systems into the River Avon at Weston Lock, Bath.
The case was brought by the Environment Agency.
The discharge of crude sewage came from an outfall pipe downstream of Weston Lock, Brassmill Lane, Bath, in July 2005. It caused the river to be discoloured for two thirds of its width and downstream for about 40 metres and there was a strong smell of sewage.
An Environment Agency officer traced the source of the pollution back to a blockage in the sewer between Brassmill Lane and the towpath adjacent to the Dolphin public house.
The blockage was cleared using a water jetter but the sewer took a considerable amount of time to resume normal flows. This area is used by boat owners, fisherman and walkers and there is a children?s play park nearby.
Wessex Water of Claverton Road, Claverton, Bath, was fined ?2,750 and ordered to pay ?1,180 costs by Bath magistrates after pleading guilty to one offence under the Water Resources Act 1991 of causing poisonous noxious or polluting matter namely sewage to enter controlled waters, The River Avon, at Weston Lock, Bath.
?We had concerns prior to this incident and requested Wessex Water carry out a full survey of the sewers in this area. This was only partially done and this led to the confusion over which of the overflow points were to blame for the pollution,? said Paula Sage for the Environment Agency.
The Environment Agency?s free 24 hour hotline for reporting environmental incidents is 0800 80 70 60.
The case was brought by the Environment Agency.
The discharge of crude sewage came from an outfall pipe downstream of Weston Lock, Brassmill Lane, Bath, in July 2005. It caused the river to be discoloured for two thirds of its width and downstream for about 40 metres and there was a strong smell of sewage.
An Environment Agency officer traced the source of the pollution back to a blockage in the sewer between Brassmill Lane and the towpath adjacent to the Dolphin public house.
The blockage was cleared using a water jetter but the sewer took a considerable amount of time to resume normal flows. This area is used by boat owners, fisherman and walkers and there is a children?s play park nearby.
Wessex Water of Claverton Road, Claverton, Bath, was fined ?2,750 and ordered to pay ?1,180 costs by Bath magistrates after pleading guilty to one offence under the Water Resources Act 1991 of causing poisonous noxious or polluting matter namely sewage to enter controlled waters, The River Avon, at Weston Lock, Bath.
?We had concerns prior to this incident and requested Wessex Water carry out a full survey of the sewers in this area. This was only partially done and this led to the confusion over which of the overflow points were to blame for the pollution,? said Paula Sage for the Environment Agency.
The Environment Agency?s free 24 hour hotline for reporting environmental incidents is 0800 80 70 60.