Severn Trent slugged with £426k fine for sewage leak
27 Jul 2016
Severn Trent Water has been fined £426,000 for a series of incidents where crude sewage leaked into the Shire Brook on the border of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.
The company pleaded guilty to the charges brought by the Environment Agency following three separate leaks of sewage into the brook between 2013 and 2014.
The fine was larger than ranges suggested within Sentencing Councils Guidelines in order to send out the “necessary message” to Severn Trent Water and its shareholders, the Environment Agency said.
This is one of the largest fines ever to be imposed on Severn Trent and I hope it sends a strong message that it is far more cost effective to avoid these incidents, as we will continue to take action against companies and individuals where they ignore their responsibilities
The Environment Agency
Nottingham Crown Court heard that the Severn Trent sewer that transported raw sewage had backed up and leaked into the surface water drain that led to the Shire Brook on the first two occasions.
Due to a blocked combined sewer, the final leak resulted in thick sewage sludge and solids on the hillside, sewage pools at ground level and grey water and sewage fungus in the brook, the Environment Agency said.
In passing sentence, the Judge said that the risks were entirely foreseeable and Severn Trent did not proactively investigate the sewers [following previous incidents].
In mitigation the Judge found that Severn Trent had expressed regret and apologised for each of the incidents, as well as facilitating an effective clean-up operation.
Severn Trent was also ordered to pay the Environment Agency's costs of £38.6k.
“Severn Trent Water has a responsibility to inspect and maintain its sewers, and the discharge of raw sewage into the same brook three times within 12 months is more than unfortunate,” said an Environment Agency officer involved with the case.
“This is one of the largest fines ever to be imposed on Severn Trent and I hope it sends a strong message that it is far more cost effective to avoid these incidents, as we will continue to take action against companies and individuals where they ignore their responsibilities.”
