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| Thames Water fined £3.3m over river sewage | Thames Water fined £3.3m over river sewage |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The incident killed more than 1,400 fish, the court heard | The incident killed more than 1,400 fish, the court heard |
| Thames Water has been fined £3.3m after it discharged millions of litres of undiluted sewage into two rivers, killing more than 1,400 fish. | Thames Water has been fined £3.3m after it discharged millions of litres of undiluted sewage into two rivers, killing more than 1,400 fish. |
| There was a "significant and lengthy" release of sewage from treatment works near Gatwick Airport in October 2017 into the Gatwick Stream in Sussex and River Mole in Surrey, a court heard. | |
| Thames Water admitted four charges in an Environment Agency prosecution. | Thames Water admitted four charges in an Environment Agency prosecution. |
| It was handed the fine during sentencing at Lewes Crown Court. | It was handed the fine during sentencing at Lewes Crown Court. |
| The company, which serves 15 million households, faces concerns over its future amid mounting debt. | The company, which serves 15 million households, faces concerns over its future amid mounting debt. |
| Judge Christine Laing KC said she believed Thames Water had shown a "deliberate attempt" to mislead the Environment Agency, by omitting water readings and submitting a report to the regulator denying responsibility. | |
| 'Faulty switch' | |
| During the hearing, the court had been told by Sailesh Mehta, prosecuting, that the sewage spill was an "accident waiting to happen". | |
| Defending Thames Water, Lisa Roberts KC said: "It shouldn't have happened and Thames deeply regrets the event." | Defending Thames Water, Lisa Roberts KC said: "It shouldn't have happened and Thames deeply regrets the event." |
| She claimed there was a "faulty switch" in the storm pump that caused the incident which "could not have reasonably been foreseen". | She claimed there was a "faulty switch" in the storm pump that caused the incident which "could not have reasonably been foreseen". |
| The record fine against a water company for illegal discharge of sewage is held by Southern Water at £90m. | |
| That fine followed nearly 7,000 incidents across Hampshire, Kent and Sussex in a case brought by the Environment Agency in 2021. | |
| Follow BBC South East on Facebook, on Twitter, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC South East on Facebook, on Twitter, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Sewage | Sewage |
| River Thames | River Thames |
| London | London |
| Gatwick Airport | Gatwick Airport |
| Environment | Environment |
| Environment Agency | Environment Agency |