Water firm fined over sewage incident

SOUTH West Water has been ordered to pay £11,250 in fines and costs after sewage effluent leaked into a tributary of the East Looe river in South East Cornwall.

On July 9 last year, a member of the public alerted the Environment Agency that sewage was escaping into a stream near Liskeard. Nearby was a combined sewer overflow (CSO) belonging to South West Water.

A blockage had caused sewage to overflow into the stream. An ecological survey showed the discharge had resulted in a “thick and extensive” growth of sewage fungus on the bed of the watercourse from the CSO to the confluence of the stream with the East Looe river.

The survey indicated that the discharge had continued over a period of time and also revealed that the stream's insect life had been affected.

South West Water was fined £8,000 and ordered to pay £3,250 by Bodmin magistrates after pleading guilty to causing sewage effluent to enter controlled waters from Liskeard Station Combined Sewer Overflow.