21/03/2005 - South Norfolk
Council was today (Thurs) given a conditional
discharge at Norwich Magistrates Court after
admitting allowing sewage to get into a tributary
of the River Waveney at Burston
The council was also ordered to pay full Environment
Agency costs of £1,528.
Magistrates heard that a householder reported
the ditch along the edge of her garden next
to Rectory Lane in Audley End was polluted
and had a septic smell. It had been like it
for some time. The householder was worried
for the health of her children and geese.
When an Environment Agency officer visited
Burston Sewage Treatment works, partially
treated effluent was seen running from the
top of a unit and the rotating arms appeared
to be blocked.
The problem was caused by a hole in a canvas
screen, designed to prevent fat balls from
clogging up distributor arms which circulate
sewage across clinker beds.
The screens had been developed by the council
over time and were cleaned on their tops every
week and on their undersides fortnightly.
Seven other treatment works operated by the
council use the same system.
The council was asked to clear the sewage
from the ditch and take it away as soon as
possible, which it did.
As a result of the sewage overflow, ammonia
levels in the watercourse were found to be
20 times higher than for an unpolluted stream
and although there was no loss to animals
or plants in the stream, the quality of the
water had been badly affected.
Since the incident, the weekly inspections
have been doubled and the council has allotted
a capital improvement budget of £4m
for the 66 sewage treatment works it operates.
The council admitted that: On or about 19
May 2004 you did cause trade effluent or sewage
effluent to be discharged into controlled
waters, an unnamed tributary of the River
Waveney at Burston in the county of Norfolk.
Contrary to s85(3) Water Resources Act 1991.
After the hearing Team Leader Christopher
McArthur said: ‘This was a serious offence
involving stream pollution from a sewage discharge.
In taking this case we are sending out a clear
message that pollution from whatever source
will not be tolerated.
‘The pollution went on for some time unnoticed
despite routine inspections by council workers
creating a potential risk for nearby householders
whose homes the stream ran by."
