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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Anglian Water fined £560k for sewage release in Essex waterway | Anglian Water fined £560k for sewage release in Essex waterway |
| (3 months later) | |
| The Environment Agency said the discharge killed protected bullhead fish in the River Wid | The Environment Agency said the discharge killed protected bullhead fish in the River Wid |
| A water company said it "deeply regretted" failures that resulted in the release of millions of litres of sewage into a river and a £536,000 fine. | A water company said it "deeply regretted" failures that resulted in the release of millions of litres of sewage into a river and a £536,000 fine. |
| Anglian Water admitted failures in managing its water recycling centre near Brentwood in Essex. | Anglian Water admitted failures in managing its water recycling centre near Brentwood in Essex. |
| The pollution killed fish along a 3km (1.8 miles) stretch of the River Wid in 2018, the Environment Agency said. | The pollution killed fish along a 3km (1.8 miles) stretch of the River Wid in 2018, the Environment Agency said. |
| District Judge Sam Goozee described Anglian Water's record as "lamentable". | District Judge Sam Goozee described Anglian Water's record as "lamentable". |
| A fault in the aeration system at an Anglian Water treatment plant caused pollution in the River Wid, which flows into the River Can in Chelmsford | A fault in the aeration system at an Anglian Water treatment plant caused pollution in the River Wid, which flows into the River Can in Chelmsford |
| The offence of causing water discharge activity took place between 27 September and 2 October 2018. | The offence of causing water discharge activity took place between 27 September and 2 October 2018. |
| Chelmsford Magistrates' Court was told a fault in an aeration process at the Doddinghurst water recycling centre at Wyatts Green meant 3.9 million litres of sewage was discharged into Doddinghurst Brook - a tributary of the River Wid. | Chelmsford Magistrates' Court was told a fault in an aeration process at the Doddinghurst water recycling centre at Wyatts Green meant 3.9 million litres of sewage was discharged into Doddinghurst Brook - a tributary of the River Wid. |
| It went unchecked for nearly three days, damaging the river's ecosystem and killing a number of a protected fish species, including the freshwater bullhead, the agency said. | It went unchecked for nearly three days, damaging the river's ecosystem and killing a number of a protected fish species, including the freshwater bullhead, the agency said. |
| It added that the pollution could been avoided had Anglian Water spent £205 on software for an early alarm system. | It added that the pollution could been avoided had Anglian Water spent £205 on software for an early alarm system. |
| It was the second time in six months that Anglian Water had been fined for polluting the same stretch, the agency said. | It was the second time in six months that Anglian Water had been fined for polluting the same stretch, the agency said. |
| The water company, whose headquarters are in Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire, was also ordered to pay costs of £27,439.21 and a victim surcharge of £170. | The water company, whose headquarters are in Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire, was also ordered to pay costs of £27,439.21 and a victim surcharge of £170. |
| Environment Agency officer Gavin Senior said the public demanded tough action when it came to water quality. | Environment Agency officer Gavin Senior said the public demanded tough action when it came to water quality. |
| "The invertebrate and fish population in this area, including a protected species, suffered significantly because of this sewage pollution and it took time for the local ecosystem to recover," he said. | "The invertebrate and fish population in this area, including a protected species, suffered significantly because of this sewage pollution and it took time for the local ecosystem to recover," he said. |
| In a statement, Anglian Water said it "deeply regretted any negative impact" and had donated £60,000 to the Essex and Suffolk Rivers Trust. | In a statement, Anglian Water said it "deeply regretted any negative impact" and had donated £60,000 to the Essex and Suffolk Rivers Trust. |
| "We take our duty of care to the environment incredibly seriously .. and find it deeply distressing when incidents like this occur," the company said. | "We take our duty of care to the environment incredibly seriously .. and find it deeply distressing when incidents like this occur," the company said. |
| "We know there's no room for complacency, and we're absolutely determined to improve further and progress towards achieving our zero pollutions goal." | "We know there's no room for complacency, and we're absolutely determined to improve further and progress towards achieving our zero pollutions goal." |
| Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk | Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Pollution | Pollution |
| Rivers | Rivers |
| Brentwood | Brentwood |
| Essex |