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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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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. | 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. | 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' | 'Faulty switch' |
| The court heard how a storm pump unexpectedly activated and was filling up the storm tank, despite no substantial rainfall, for 21 hours, which went unnoticed. | The court heard how a storm pump unexpectedly activated and was filling up the storm tank, despite no substantial rainfall, for 21 hours, which went unnoticed. |
| The court heard the pump then spilled sewage into the river for an estimated six hours but no alarm was in place to alert staff to the overspill. | The court heard the pump then spilled sewage into the river for an estimated six hours but no alarm was in place to alert staff to the overspill. |
| When an alarm was heard, the lead technician was uncontactable because they were awaiting a new mobile phone, the court was told. | When an alarm was heard, the lead technician was uncontactable because they were awaiting a new mobile phone, the court was told. |
| Why is sewage pumped into rivers and the sea? | |
| Thames Water fined £20m for sewage spill | |
| Thames Water boss quits after sewage spills | |
| During the hearing, the court had been told by Sailesh Mehta, prosecuting, the sewage spill was an "accident waiting to happen". | During the hearing, the court had been told by Sailesh Mehta, prosecuting, the sewage spill was an "accident waiting to happen". |
| Defending Thames Water, Lisa Roberts KC claimed there was a "faulty switch" in the storm pump that caused the incident which "could not have reasonably been foreseen". | Defending Thames Water, Lisa Roberts KC claimed there was a "faulty switch" in the storm pump that caused the incident which "could not have reasonably been foreseen". |
| She said: "It shouldn't have happened and Thames deeply regrets the event." | She said: "It shouldn't have happened and Thames deeply regrets the event." |
| Thames Water pleaded guilty to four charges relating to polluting the rivers | Thames Water pleaded guilty to four charges relating to polluting the rivers |
| The judge said she found it "utterly extraordinary" that environmental disasters could occur because of issues such as this. | The judge said she found it "utterly extraordinary" that environmental disasters could occur because of issues such as this. |
| She said the company "should have put in every effort into tidying up the problem areas". | |
| Thames Water has had 20 previous fines for pollution spillage. | Thames Water has had 20 previous fines for pollution spillage. |
| The company's chief executive, Sarah Bentley, stepped down last week after two years in the role, weeks after giving up her bonus over sewage spills. | The company's chief executive, Sarah Bentley, stepped down last week after two years in the role, weeks after giving up her bonus over sewage spills. |
| The record fine against a water company for illegal discharge of sewage is held by Southern Water at £90m. | 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. | 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 |