Firm fined after sewage kills fish

The Environment Agency has said it is ‘disappointed’ at a fine handed out to Anglian Water after sewage killed thousands of fish.

Anglian Water was fined £50,000, while its Alliance Partner, Danaher & Walsh, was fined £10,000 at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court.

The court heard that on 27 December 2018, a sewer owned by Anglian Water collapsed in Stanground.

Danaher and Walsh set up a system to pump the sewage backintothedrainagesystem.

However, it became blocked with items that shouldn’t be flushed like baby wipes.

A few days later it failed leading to sewage ending up in Stanground Lode.

Neither company reportedtheincidenttotheEnvironmentAgencybutaconcerned member of the public called the incident hotline.

Environment Agency investigatorsfoundatleast2,413 fish died. Among those killed were European Eel which is listed as a “critically endangered” species.

It’s believed sewage could have been discharging into the river for up to 10 hours. Levels of ammonia monitored downstream from the discharge were found to be 200 times higher than average water quality standards.

Both companies pleaded guiltytocausinganillegalsewagedischargebetween5January and 8 January 2019.

Environment Manager at the Environment Agency YvonneDalysaid:“Wearedisappointedwiththefineissued and would like to see higher penalties to really deter polluters from future offences.

“Both companies in this case failed in their environmental duties, leaving to a devastating impact on the local biodiversity.”

Anglian Water was ordered to pay costs of £24,387 andDanaher&Walsh£5,000.