17/06/2005 - Environment
Agency officers are today continuing to deal
with a significant pollution on the River
Camlad, near Churchstoke.
An emergency response earlier this week by
fire-fighters from the Montgomery and Newtown
stations of the Mid and West Wales Fire and
Rescue Service helped to contain a spillage
of what is believed to be an organic substance
into the river.
Initial reports suggested that the spill
had been completely contained, but further
reports yesterday of odour and dead and distressed
fish revealed that some pollution had entered
the River Camlad and was affecting the relatively
inaccessible stretch of river at Marrington
Dingle.
We have been using aeration equipment since
yesterday afternoon to pump oxygen into the
water to try to save the populations of fish
and invertebrates that live in the river.
Fisheries officers have also been on site
assessing the effects on fish and wildlife
and so far, as a result of our actions, relatively
small numbers of fish have died.
Samples of the pollution have been taken
for laboratory testing to determine the exact
nature of the polluting substance and our
Environment Officers have begun to collect
evidence as part of an investigation into
the cause of the incident.
Meanwhile, oxygen levels in the river have
improved over the last 24 hours. We hope to
be able to continue this improvement, although
our efforts are being hampered by the current
hot weather which can exacerbate the effects
of the pollution. Officers will continue to
aerate the river within and ahead of the plug
of pollution as it moves downstream until
the substance dilutes to levels which are
unlikely to cause any further problems.
Environment Management Team Leader, Michelle
Pardoe, says: "I would like to thank
members of the public who have called us since
yesterday to report continuing problems with
the river. I hope they will be reassured to
know that we have acted on their reports,
and that we are working hard to reduce the
impact of this pollution.
"This incident is being actively dealt
with and people living downstream need not
call us. However, we are always grateful to
people who report environmental pollution
incidents, enabling us to put measures in
place as early as possible to minimise harm
to the environment. Anyone wishing to report
future incidents can contact us free of charge
on 0800 807060.
"We will continue to monitor the progress
of the pollution as it approaches the River
Severn and have warned the water companies
in case it should be necessary to switch to
alternative supplies. We do not expect to
see a long-term effect on the river and the
aquatic populations are expected to recover
relatively quickly."
Organic substances such as milk, beer and
some farm wastes are some of the worst environmental
pollutants. They remove oxygen from the water,
causing fish and other aquatic creatures to
suffocate. It is important to replace the
oxygen as quickly as possible to minimise
the loss of life.
Notes to Editor
Our Environment Officers are warranted officers,
holding a similar role to that of the Police,
so we cannot comment on the likely cause of
the incident at this time, or speculate as
to the nature of the polluting substance,
as investigations are still under way.
