Water giant’s ‘paltry’ fine after 2,000 fish killed by sewage spill
SOUTHERN Water has been fined a “paltry” £330,000 for failing to respond to an alarm about faulty equipment pumping raw sewage into a stream, killing 2,000 fish.
The leak into Shawford Lake Stream in Hampshire lasted up to 20 hours on July 21, 2019, spreading across fields and into the grounds of YMCA Fairthorne Manor activity centre.
The fine was issued by Southampton magistrates yesterday after the firm admitted a breach of environmental regulations in a case brought by the Environment Agency.
The EA said the pollution spread nearly two miles, with ammonia levels in the water
25 times the legal limit. A spokesman added: “The number of fish killed grew as the investigation went on. Brown trout, bullheads and sticklebacks all found lifeless in the water – 1,954 in all.”
Angry environmentalists hit out. James Wallace of River Action UK said: “Why has it taken nearly four years to prosecute an obvious case of sewage pollution? And why was the fine to a serial offender so paltry?” Clean river campaigner Matt Staniek said the fine was “an amount they’ll make back in hours”, adding: “Pollution remains profitable as pitiful fines fails to deter polluter.” Richard Manning, counsel for Southern Water, apologised and said: “As soon as we became aware of this event we took action to reduce its impact, and have since co-operated fully with the EA’s investigation, pleading guilty at the first opportunity. We have compensated the YMCA and set up a £140,000 grant scheme with the Groundwork South Trust to aid habitat improvement. Learning from this incident led to a comprehensive review of our unmanned pumping stations to ensure those at highest risk were fit for purpose.”