22/03/2005 - Solid sewage
overflowed into a stream at the bottom of
gardens in Newmarket Road, Cheveley, Cambridgeshire
when a foul sewer became blocked.
Anglian Water Services pleaded guilty at Ely
Magistrates Court today (Tues) to breaching
the Water Resources Act 1991 and was fined
£2,000 and ordered to pay £950
costs.
The court was told that the pollution affected
at least 1.5km of stream which had to be cleaned
out by a tanker and shovels.
Magistrates were told that the pollution
appeared to have been going on for some time.
In the stream tests showed that the level
of pollution was three to four times higher
than that of crude domestic sewage and where
it had collected on the side of the stream
it was 25 times higher. Ammonia levels in
the water were very high and enough to be
a risk to aquatic life.
Anglian Water Services Ltd admitted that:
On or about 2 March 2004 you did cause poisonous,
noxious or polluting matter to enter controlled
waters, namely an unnamed watercourse near
Newmarket Road at Cheveley, Newmarket in the
County of Cambridgeshire, contrary to s85(1)
Water Resources Act 1991.
After the hearing environment officer Paul
Clarke said: " This incident highlights
the impact of sewer overflows on small watercourses.
In this case, if the overflow had been identified
earlier, the impact would have been greatly
reduced."
