Northumbrian Water (NWL) has had to pay more than £500,000 for two pollution incidents caused by sewage discharges into North East watercourses, following enforcement action by the Environment Agency (EA). The money will be used by two local charities for environmental improvements.
The EA has accepted enforcement undertakings totalling £550,000 from NWL after separate pollution incidents at Sedgeletch sewage treatment works (STW) in Houghton-le-Spring and Lanchester STW in County Durham. Both incidents involved unauthorised sewage discharges into local streams.
The EA said the cash would go to environmental charities to bolster improvements including habitat restoration and work to improve fish migration and reduce pollution. The company will make the following financial contributions:
- £350,000 to Wear Rivers Trust for an unauthorised sewage discharge from Sedgeletch STW at Houghton-le-Spring into Moors Burn in September 2020. It affected 5.5km of the burn, resulting in an adverse impact on aquatic life. The impact could not be fully attributed to the water company, said the EA, with two other sources of pollution close to the outfall. The cash will be spent on habitat restoration at Old Durham Beck.
- £200,000 to Durham Wildlife Trust for an unauthorised sewage discharge from Lanchester STW into Smallhope Burn in April 2021. Sampling found elevated ammonia levels downstream of the works, said the EA, with the investigation revealing the levels had breached the limit permitted by the environmental permit. The cash will be spent on various environmental improvement projects in the catchment.
In addition to the financial contributions, Northumbrian Water has carried out remedial actions at each site as part of the sanctions. This includes changing on-site procedures and installing telemetry at Sedgeletch STW, and around £7mn of investment at Lanchester STW. The company will also pay all the EA’s investigation costs. Northumbrian Water told North East Bylines £27.4mn improvements were completed, underway or planned at the two sites.
Strengthened crackdown
The EA said the enforcement undertakings came amid a strengthened crackdown on pollution and poor performance across the water industry. In the last year, a record £8.5mn had been paid by water companies into environmental restoration across the country, almost double the year before.
Rachael Caldwell, EA water industry regulation manager in the North East, said: “It’s unacceptable that water companies continue to pollute our watercourses. We expect compliance and we will take action where we see breaches. We always consider enforcement options on a case by case basis, and these civil sanctions allow wrongdoings to be corrected while contributing to environmental improvements.
“This £550,000 will be invested back into the local area to enhance the environment, bringing real benefits for people and wildlife. We are continuing to drive meaningful improvements in water company performance, clean up waterways and crackdown on persistent offenders.”
Enforcement undertakings are legally binding agreements between the EA and companies that have breached environmental rules. The undertaking requires the company to take steps to prevent repetition of the offending and to put right the damage it has caused. It usually includes a payment to an environmental charity to carry out improvements in the local area. This money can help deliver immediate benefits to the environment, without requiring lengthy and uncertain court proceedings, said the EA – complementing the Agency’s wider enforcement action against serial offenders.
Northumbrian Water has been approached for a response.
Company statement
A Northumbrian Water spokesman told North East Bylines: “We work incredibly hard to avoid pollution incidents and are making significant long-term investment to protect and improve rivers, coasts and local environments across the North East.
“Since these incidents, we have continued to invest in our wastewater network and treatment works to help protect the environment and reduce the likelihood of similar issues occurring in future. This includes a £7.8mn upgrade completed at Lanchester sewage treatment works, with a further £6mn investment planned. At Sedgeletch, a £13.6mn programme of work is underway, alongside wider improvements across our network.
“We work closely with the EA on all reported incidents and, where enforcement undertakings are accepted, these allow the local community to benefit from the funding offered.”
*This report is based on a press release from the EA.
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