Water company fined for polluting river

UNITED Utilities has been fined £24,000 for polluting the River Tame near Mossley with bleach — which killed hundreds of fish in June, 2009.

The water company pleaded guilty in a prosecution brought by the Environment Agency at Tameside Magistrates Court yesterday.

The court heard that Environment Agency officers went to the river to investigate after receiving reports from the public about a large number of dead fish.

Officers contacted United Utilities (UU) and also attended Buckton Castle Water Treatment Works at Mossley.

While on site, United Utilities admitted there had been an overflow of sodium hypochlorite (bleach) at the treatment works from a container.

The chemical had been pumped out of a containment bund which the company believed to be connected to the foul sewer, but it was actually connected to a surface water drain which discharged into the river.

The incident caused significant pollution over a 1.5km stretch of the River Tame, causing the death of brown trout, chub and pike, as well as other small invertebrates within the water.

David Orr, environment officer for the Environment Agency, said: “The Environment Agency works hard with other organisations to protect and improve the water quality across the country.

“Incidents like this, which have a significant impact on the river, can and should be prevented.

“United Utilities use sodium hypochlorite on site as part of the treatment process and is fully aware of the risk of harm if it discharges into drains and watercourses.”