News
Environmental Update (February 2010)
Company Fined for Water Pollution
A Buckinghamshire Company has pleaded guilty to Section 85 (1)
& (6) of the Water Resources Act 1991 relating to the discharge
of polluted water into the Cauldwell Brook and River Maun. The
Company was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay £5,052.79 in costs,
along with a £15 victim surcharge.
Mansfield Magistrates' Court heard that the Company was
operating from a site adjacent to the Mansfield and Ashfield
Regeneration Route. The site had two discharge points, one
into the Cauldwell Brook and one into the River Maun via balancing
ponds.
On 1st May 2008, the pumping operation failed to discharge
through the treatment system. This resulted in polluted water
entering a tributary of the Cauldwell Brook which was seen to be
orange until its confluence with the River Maun, 1.5km downstream.
The pollution was then visible for a further 500 metres downstream
in the River Maun through Mansfield. This incident also polluted
Reed Mill Fishery, a three acre fishing facility located on the
Cauldwell Brook. Even though no fish were killed, angling and fauna
were affected.
Speaking after the case the Environment Agency said: "It is
regrettable that the Company did not act to prevent this pollution.
The incident was not reported to the Environment Agency by the
Company and although it had procedures in place to manage the
treatment of silty water, on this occasion they were not
followed".
For further information on the Mentor Environmental
Service, please call us on 0800 634 7006.