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Ian Cloke
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Northumbrian Water fined ?6,000 for North Sea pollution
Author:
Alexandra Wales
Date published:
11-Oct-2006
Keywords:
Northumbrian Water Ltd was fined ?6,000 yesterday (Tuesday) at Guisborough Magistrates? Court after pleading guilty to two incidents of pollution of the North Sea at Marske, near Redcar.
The water utility company, of Pity Me, Durham, was also ordered to pay costs of ?1,069.17 to the Environment Agency, which brought the case.
Trevor Cooper, prosecuting for the Environment Agency, told the court that on 18 April 2006 an Environment Agency officer attended Northumbrian Water?s sewage works at Green Lane, Marske, for a routine sample of the water on the coast. He noticed that the effluent flow appeared to be darker than usual and took a formal sample to be analysed.
The sample was found to contain suspended solids of 584 milligrammes per litre, which was more than double the permitted limit of 250 milligrammes per litre. Northumbrian Water Ltd has a consent to discharge treated sewage effluent from its sewage treatment to the North Sea, but this is subject to specific conditions, one of the conditions being that it shall contain no more than 250 milligrammes per litre of suspended solids.
On 23 June 2006, a further sample was taken. It also appeared to be brown with a high solids content. Tests showed that the sample measured at 384 milligrammes per litre.
In interview it was accepted that Northumbrian Water Ltd were in breach of their consent to discharge. They accepted the breaches but said they had technical difficulties that affected the way equipment could sense the water level.
Mr Cooper said that the environmental impact is not known as the effluent discharges via a sea outfall and there was no report of fish kill or pollution. However, suspended solids can potentially have a significant impact as high solids can reduce the quality of bathing waters.
The court also heard that a previous warning letter had been issued by the Environment Agency to Northumbrian Water Ltd on 22 November 2004, for exceeding the suspended solids limit at this treatment works, and a formal caution was issued on 6 July 2006 for breaching water quality on 13 October 2005 under the Urban Waste Water Treatment Regulations (England and Wales,1994) at this treatment works.
In mitigation, it was stated that the discharge was a short duration and there had been no further incidents.
Ends
Notes to editors:
Offences:
On 18th April 2006 at Marske Sewage Treatment Works, Redcar, did contravene condition 1.7.2(a) of consent to discharge number 25/06/1015 in respect of the suspended solids limit for a discharge of sewage effluent to controlled waters, namely the North Sea. Contrary to Section 85(6) of the Water Resources Act 1991.
On 23rd June 2006 at Marske Sewage Treatment Works, Redcar, did contravene condition 1.7.2(a) of consent to discharge number 25/06/1015 in respect of the suspended solids limit for a discharge of sewage effluent to controlled waters, namely the North Sea. Contrary to Section 85(6) of the Water Resources Act 1991.
Author:
Alexandra Wales
Date published:
11-Oct-2006
Keywords:
Northumbrian Water Ltd was fined ?6,000 yesterday (Tuesday) at Guisborough Magistrates? Court after pleading guilty to two incidents of pollution of the North Sea at Marske, near Redcar.
The water utility company, of Pity Me, Durham, was also ordered to pay costs of ?1,069.17 to the Environment Agency, which brought the case.
Trevor Cooper, prosecuting for the Environment Agency, told the court that on 18 April 2006 an Environment Agency officer attended Northumbrian Water?s sewage works at Green Lane, Marske, for a routine sample of the water on the coast. He noticed that the effluent flow appeared to be darker than usual and took a formal sample to be analysed.
The sample was found to contain suspended solids of 584 milligrammes per litre, which was more than double the permitted limit of 250 milligrammes per litre. Northumbrian Water Ltd has a consent to discharge treated sewage effluent from its sewage treatment to the North Sea, but this is subject to specific conditions, one of the conditions being that it shall contain no more than 250 milligrammes per litre of suspended solids.
On 23 June 2006, a further sample was taken. It also appeared to be brown with a high solids content. Tests showed that the sample measured at 384 milligrammes per litre.
In interview it was accepted that Northumbrian Water Ltd were in breach of their consent to discharge. They accepted the breaches but said they had technical difficulties that affected the way equipment could sense the water level.
Mr Cooper said that the environmental impact is not known as the effluent discharges via a sea outfall and there was no report of fish kill or pollution. However, suspended solids can potentially have a significant impact as high solids can reduce the quality of bathing waters.
The court also heard that a previous warning letter had been issued by the Environment Agency to Northumbrian Water Ltd on 22 November 2004, for exceeding the suspended solids limit at this treatment works, and a formal caution was issued on 6 July 2006 for breaching water quality on 13 October 2005 under the Urban Waste Water Treatment Regulations (England and Wales,1994) at this treatment works.
In mitigation, it was stated that the discharge was a short duration and there had been no further incidents.
Ends
Notes to editors:
Offences:
On 18th April 2006 at Marske Sewage Treatment Works, Redcar, did contravene condition 1.7.2(a) of consent to discharge number 25/06/1015 in respect of the suspended solids limit for a discharge of sewage effluent to controlled waters, namely the North Sea. Contrary to Section 85(6) of the Water Resources Act 1991.
On 23rd June 2006 at Marske Sewage Treatment Works, Redcar, did contravene condition 1.7.2(a) of consent to discharge number 25/06/1015 in respect of the suspended solids limit for a discharge of sewage effluent to controlled waters, namely the North Sea. Contrary to Section 85(6) of the Water Resources Act 1991.