South West Water prosecuted following river
pollution
Environmental update 07/06/2011
Following the discharge of sewage effluent into Crediton's River
Yeo, South West Water has been prosecuted by the Environment Agency
(EA).
The EA were first alerted to the river pollution close to
Crediton sewage treatment works in June last year. Sewage was seen
pouring from an outfall at the treatment works into the river and
it was found not to have been properly treated beforehand.
A sample of the sewage revealed that it exceeded permitted
levels of harmful substances such as biochemical oxygen demand and
ammonia. The River Yeo riverbed was also found to be covered in
sewage fungus, and dead fish were found floating in the river. The
pollution was found to have seriously damaged riverlife.
Despite South West Water being unable to treat all of the sewage
at the Crediton plant due to it operating at reduced capacity, the
firm did not notify the EA of its issues.
The EA's Mischka Hewins said, “Despite ongoing difficulties with
its treatment process and a deterioration in effluent quality,
South West Water failed to notify us of the problems it was
experiencing at a site that serves as the main treatment works for
Crediton.
"South West Water was fully aware that the River Yeo is a
sensitive watercourse, yet no checks were made on the condition of
the river while poor quality effluent was being discharged from the
treatment works. The number of fish killed was probably higher as
we only counted dead fish visible in shallow water,” she added.
South West Water pleaded guilty to breaching the Environmental
Permitting Regulations 2010 and was fined £20,000 plus £8,000 costs
at Exeter Magistrates Court.