Raw sewage escaped from an Anglian Water overflow pipe causing a major pollution of the River Ore near Framlingham, Suffolk killing thousands of leeches, hundreds of sticklebacks and unknown numbers of roach and eels. The Environment Agency told Lowestoft magistrates that the river was unlikely to recover for months, if not years, and the effect on the ecology could also have a longer term effect on other wildlife such as otters and voles, which are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act and which rely on good water quality. Anglian Water was fined £ 12,000 and ordered to pay full Environment Agency costs of £ 6,250 after magistrates were told that the overflow happened when a manhole cover disintegrated causing a blockage and sewage to back up and out of the pipe in July last year. The manhole containing the overflow pipe was not maintained by the water company and it did not appear on their sewerage mapping system, prosecutor Mrs Miriam Tordoff told the court. She said the matter was further aggravated by the fact that there was no alarm on the overflow pipe to alert operatives that sewage was escaping and although the company had permission to discharge through the pipe, it should only happen during storm conditions. The chairman of the magistrates said on passing sentence: ‘We note that the maintenance programme was reactive rather than proactive.’ Anglian Water told the court that they did have a routine maintenance programme where there were known problems. The highly polluting sewage affected the river quality for more than 5 km and officers investigating the incident witnessed dead fish, eels and invertebrates from Broadwater bridge to Hatheston. They also saw gasping eels, many of which were fleeing up side ditches to escape the polluted river. Aeration equipment was used by the Environment Agency to put oxygen back into the water to reduce the effect of the pollution. A biological survey carried out two days after the pollution was discovered showed that sewage fungus was growing on the river bed, indicating that the river may have been suffering from pollution for a long time south of Framlingham Sewage Treatment Works. The blocked sewer was found just upstream of the works. Mrs Tordoff told magistrates that the river flowed through a residential area and numerous complaints about the strong smell of sewage and the grey/brown colour of the water were received from people living close by. By early August, those giving statements had not seen any fish in the river following the incident. Anglian Water admitted causing poisonous, noxious or polluting matter, namely untreated sewage effluent, to enter controlled waters, namely the River Ore at Framlingham, Suffolk on or about 14 July 2007, contrary to section 85(1) and section 85(6) Water Resources Act 1991. After the hearing, Environment Agency investigating officer Rebecca Mullins said: ‘I am saddened to have dealt with a pollution that has had such a harmful effect on the water quality and ecology of the River Ore. The magistrates took the case very seriously and I am pleased with their decision. I would urge anyone witnessing a river pollution to call our 24 hour incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60’. |
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