02/02/2006 - Dead invertebrates
were found in the River Alt at Knowsley
after it was polluted with raw sewage by
United Utilities. Following an incident
in June 2005 an Environment Agency ecologist
discovered hundreds of dead leeches and
two dead sticklebacks in the river, which
was littered with used sanitary towels and
toilet paper. It was estimated that the
channel bed was 100% covered by sewage fungus.
Less than two months later, the riverbed
was again covered with sewage fungus and
more dead invertebrates were discovered.
United Utilities has been fined £35,000
and ordered to pay £4,105 to the Environment
Agency, which brought a prosecution after
Huyton Farm Pumping Station failed twice,
causing pollution of the River Alt, which
harmed the ecology of the river. This was
the second time United Utilities has been
prosecuted for an illegal discharge of sewage
into the River Alt.
Liverpool Magistrates’ Court was told that
on 6 June 2005 the Environment Agency investigated
a report from a member of the public that
the River Alt at Harecroft was blue/grey
and smelled of detergent. An Environment
Officer took samples, the analysis of which
confirmed that it was raw sewage.
Under a consent to discharge issued by
the Environment Agency, United Utilities
is only allowed to discharge sewage from
Huyton Farm Pumping Station in an emergency
and ordinarily all sewage passing through
the pumping station should be pumped to
Huyton Wastewater Treatment works for treatment.
United Utilities is required to provide
and maintain a 24-hour alarm to warn the
company if there is failure or breakdown
of the pumping station and also to warn
the company if there is a discharge from
the emergency overflow.
The pollution occurred when one of the
pumps was turned off and awaiting repair
and the other two were not pumping because
of blockages.
The court heard a similar incident was
investigated on 1st August 2005, again following
complaint from a member of the public. On
that occasion one pump was off site awaiting
repair and the two remaining pumps had tripped
out.
The company’s alarm system was inadequate
and the company subsequently advised the
Agency that it would install 3 additional
alarms at the pumping station and in the
meantime had increased its visits to check
the pumping station is operating correctly.
The company pleaded guilty to two offences
of causing sewage effluent to be discharged
into the river and asked for 4 offences
of contravening conditions of its consent
in respect of the alarm requirements to
be taken into consideration.
Speaking after the hearing Environment
Officer Neil Finch said: "The company
is required by its consent to have an alarm
to notify it of breakdown of the pumping
station and operation of the overflow but
on both occasions United Utilities was alerted
to the incidents by the Environment Agency.
The company was aware that if problems
arose it could cause illegal discharges,
but it was only following the second incident
that it increased inspection. On both occasions
the discharge occurred for at least 48 hours.
In the absence of an adequate alarm system
more regular checks of the station could
have prevented or minimised the discharges
and avoided or limited the impact on the
river."
The Environment Agency acknowledges the
co-operation and response by United Utilities,
who acted promptly once it was alerted to
the incidents and cleaned up the river.
The Environment Agency relies on members
of the public reporting pollution incidents.
If you see any kind of environmental incident
call the Environment Agency on 0800 80 70
60.
Notes:
United Utilities Water plc pleaded guilty
to the following offences on 2 February
2006 at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court:
On or about 6 June 2005 at Harecroft, Croxteth,
Liverpool, it caused sewage effluent to
be discharged into controlled waters, namely
the River Alt, contrary to section 85(3)(a)
and section 85(6) of the Water Resources
Act 1991. Fine £15,000
On or about 1 August 2005 at Harecroft,
Croxteth, Liverpool, it caused sewage effluent
to be discharged into controlled waters,
namely the River Alt, contrary to section
85(3)(a) and section 85(6) of the Water
Resources Act 1991 Fine 20,000
The following offences were taken into consideration
by the court: -
On or about 6 June 2005 at Huyton Farm
Pumping Station it contravened Condition
6(c) of Consent to Discharge number 016997049
in that it failed to maintain an alarm system
to provide a notification of operation of
the emergency overflow, contrary to section
85(6) of the Water Resources Act 1991.
On or about 1 August 2005 at Huyton Farm
Pumping Station it contravened Condition
6(c) of Consent to Discharge number 016997049
in that it failed to maintain alarm system
to provide a notification of operation of
the emergency overflow, contrary to section
85(6) of the Water Resources Act 1991.
On or about 6 June 2005 at Huyton Farm Pumping
Station it contravened Condition 6(a) of
Consent to Discharge number 016997049 in
that it failed to maintain alarm system
to give notification of failure or breakdown
of the pumping station contrary to Section
85(6) of the Water Resources Act 1991.
On or about 1 August 2005 at Huyton Farm
Pumping Station it contravened Condition
6(a) of Consent to Discharge number 016997049
in that it failed to maintain an alarm system
to give notification of failure or breakdown
of the pumping station contrary to Section
85(6) of the Water Resources Act 1991.
