Anglian Water fined £510,000 for river pollution, says report

Anglian Water has been reportedly fined £510,000 with costs of £50,000 after an Environment Agency investigation found that raw sewage had been discharged into the Great Ouse at in Northamptonshire, killing some 5,000 fish.

A Press Association New Agency (PA) report told how Anglian Water pleaded guilty to a breach of permit at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court last week. About 6Ml of raw sewage was pumped into the river during the incident in May 2017, according to the PA report.

The discharge from the emergency overflow at a pumping station was understood to have continued for almost 24 hours after electrical faults caused the pumps to stop and the early warning alarm system failed.

The report said the Environment Agency told the court the pollution stretched 12km killing fish including brown trout, chub and pike as well as smaller species such as bullhead, dace, and gudgeon.