22-May-2006
- Pollution prevention campaign for ‘Living Rivers’
Brook
The Environment Agency is launching
a special campaign in Bristol next week to protect
the Brislington Brook from industrial pollution.
The brook, which flows through
the Brislington, Broom Hill and St Annes areas
of the city, has been repeatedly hit by pollution
in recent years causing a decline in water quality
and wildlife.
The Agency traced several pollution
incidents back to the Brislington Industrial Estate
where surface water drains flow directly into
the brook. Among the cocktail of harmful pollutants
that have entered the stream are oil and diesel,
detergents, paints and dyes, sediments and waste
cooking oil.
Next week the Agency is sending
a ‘hit-squad’ of officers to the Industrial Estate
as part of a Pollution Prevention Campaign. Starting
on Monday (May 22) they will carry out a series
of inspections and meet the managers of individual
premises in a bid to prevent further pollution
of the Brislington Brook.
Special attention will be paid
to site drainage, chemical and fuel storage and
any waste issues. The Environment Agency will
follow-up its visits with letters to local businesses
offering advice and information on pollution prevention
measures.
The Brislington Brook is part
of the network of watercourses targeted by the
Bristol Living Rivers Project – a partnership
scheme headed-up by Bristol City Council and the
Environment Agency to improve the quality of local
streams and rivers with the help of local community
groups.
‘Tracing pollution caused by
spillages into surface-water systems in urban
areas can be very difficult. Unfortunately, there
have been several such pollution incidents on
the Brislington Brook that have had a significant
negative impact on water quality and local wildlife,’
said Victoria Freke for the Environment Agency.
‘By visiting premises on the
Industrial Estate we hope to raise awareness of
local businesses of the importance of pollution
prevention and identify any on site issues that
may be contributing to pollution of the brook,’
said Victoria Freke.
Businesses polluting watercourses
run the risk of prosecution by the Environment
Agency so it makes sense for them to check their
site drainage, chemical and waste storage facilities.
Information on Pollution Prevention
can be found on this. Businesses can obtain further
help and advice on how to comply with environmental
regulations from NetRegs www.netregs.gov.uk
Pollution of watercourses can be reported to the
Environment Agency’s free 24 hotline 0800 80 70
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