22-Jun-2006 - Dwr Cymru Welsh
Water has been fined £4,000 for causing
sewage effluent to enter coastal waters off Broad
Haven Beach in Pembrokeshire, an offence contrary
to Section 85(3) of the Water Resources Act 1991.
The company, which pleaded guilty to the offence
at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on Monday 19
June 2006 was also ordered to pay costs of £2,752
to Environment Agency Wales who brought the prosecution.
The Court was told that on 28
July 2005 an Agency Officer investigated a complaint
that sewage was being discharged to the beach
at Broad Haven. He found discoloured water discharging
from an outlet in the sea wall, there were items
of sewage debris including faeces on the beach
and a distinct smell of sewage. The discharge
crossed the beach and eventually flowed into the
bathing waters off the beach.
The outfall in question is connected
to the surface water drainage system in Broad
Haven and is designed so that at times of heavy
rain when that drainage system has reached capacity
clean surface water is discharged onto the beach.
The surface water pipe also connects to the foul
sewer and during improvements carried out to the
sewage system in Broad Haven in 1998 the Agency
had advised the Company to seal the pipe where
it connected into the sewer.
On the day in question heavy
rainfall caused the sewage system in Broad Haven
to become overloaded. As a result sewage effluent
backed up the sewer and as no bung was present
both surface water and sewage effluent discharged
to the beach through the outfall.
It was said on behalf of the
company that it was believed that a bung had been
inserted in the pipe by contractors during the
improvements carried out in 1998 and that it appeared
to have been removed by an unknown third party
or become dislodged during the ensuing period.
Speaking after the case
Ben Williams, an Environment Officer with Environment
Agency Wales said: ‘ We are pleased with this
conviction as it is important to protect one of
Pembrokeshire’s valuable assets, its fine bathing
water beaches. Broad Haven recently achieved the
prestigious Blue Flag award, which demonstrates
high standards, important to both the tourist
industry and the local community.’
(Martin Watkins)
