Companies Encouraged To Check Pollution Prevention Measures

8 November 2011

The Environment Agency is urging all companies to check they have the right pollution prevention measures in place to protect the environment, and avoid potential prosecution

The call comes after Pincroft Dyeing and Printing Company Limited was fined £3,500 for a pollution incident, which resulted in blue discolouration of the River Douglas in January this year.

In a case heard at South Ribble Magistrates, the company, based at Adlington Works, Market Street, Chorley, pleaded guilty to causing a water discharge activity.

On 31 January 2011, Environment Agency officers visited the company after it was reported that a stretch of the River Douglas had turned blue.　

The company investigated and found that a drain on site was blocked and was causing trade effluent to back up and spill over a low retaining wall and enter the river. The company only became aware of the pollution when the Environment Agency visited its premises. The pollution had the potential to cause serious harm to the river but this was avoided as the incident was of short duration.

Following the incident company installed a high level alarm in the drain and instigated a weekly inspection to check for blockages to reduce the risk of further pollution incidents from the site.

Speaking after the case, Ian Gaskell, Environment Officer said, "The Environment Agency's priority is to ensure that the environment is protected. By working with companies to give them advice and guidance on their operations, we are able to reduce the risk of serious pollution incidents. I would encourage all companies to contact us, so we can help identify solutions, before we encounter any problems."

www.environment-agency.gov.uk

Darrel Moore