In a case brought by the Environment Agency this week, Severn Trent Water has been fined £10,000 and ordered to pay £2,659.63 in costs for polluting a Notthinghamshire watercourse.

The charge was brought contrary to Regulation 38(2) and 12(b) of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulation 2010.

On 12 March 2012, Environment Agency officers attended an incident on the Potwell Dyke watercourse in Southwell, Nottinghamshire. The incident was reported by Severn Trent Water who said that water pollution had discharged into the watercourse from their combined sewer outfall.

Under the terms of their environmental permit consent, Severn Trent Water were permitted to discharge into the Potwell Dyke but only during storm conditions, when flows in the overflow exceed 15 litres per second. This is to protect the downstream properties from the risk of flooding during a storm. At the time of the pollution report weather conditions were dry.

Following the incident Severn Trent Water brought their contractors on site to remediate the pollution and remove debris from the watercourse.

Speaking after the case, an Environment Agency officer in charge of the investigation said:

“Although Severn Trent Water reported the discharge to us immediately, it was too late to prevent the pollution of the Potwell Dyke. We do everything we can to protect the environment, local rivers and watercourses. This case sends out a clear message that we will not hesitate to prosecute as necessary when environmental damage is caused.”

In mitigation, the court took in to account Severn Trent Water’s early guilty plea and said that culpability was low because of their inspection regime and no previous incidents at this location. Severn Trent Water’s response to the incident was adequate; there was remedial action taken and a minimal impact on the ecosystem.