United Utilities fined after potentially harmful levels of effluent leak into the River Dee

Jul 30 2010 by Paul Mannion, Chester Chronicle

DRINKING water supplier United Utilities was ordered to pay more than £8,000 after they allowed potentially environmental damaging levels of discharge to leak into the River Dee.

Samples taken from the river at nearby Sandiway revealed three times as much solid matter than is legal, levels of aluminum about four times over the limit and excessive levels of magnesium.

Speaking at Chester Magistrates Court on Thursday, Jane Morgan, prosecuting, said: “The samples detected an impact in the water quality.

“It has the potential to cause environmental harm.

“High levels of solid can potentially impact on aquatic life, it falls to the bottom, cutting out light and oxygen for the flora and fauna and can be toxic to fish.

“Aluminium is also toxic to fish.”

Officers from the Environment Agency chanced upon the escaping effluent during a routine visit to United Utilities Huntington Water Treatment Works in October last year.

“A sampling officer visited the facility to carry out a routine sample for monitoring purposes,” added Ms Morgan.

“Samples of the discharge did reveal contravention of the licence for suspended solids.

“Magnesium has been exceeded and aluminium results came out about four times the limit.

“The company is aware of those contraventions and aware of its obligations.”

The cause of the incident was found to be waste stored in 50-year-old lagoons – collected from the process of cleaning Dee water so it is suitable for drinking – seeping through wooden slats and running into the river.

Announcing that millions of pounds was due to be spent improving the site, Ian Ponter, defending, said: “There is no prospect in the future of this happening again.

“There is no suggestion this was a deliberate offence, it isn’t a repeat offence, and as for financial gain there hasn’t been any, there has been a substantial cost.

“There is absolutely no suggestion of any environmental harm whatsoever.”

United Utilities were fined £6,000, ordered to pay the prosecution costs of £2,199.47, and a victim’s surcharge of £15.