Anglian Water fined £300,000 for sewage pollution in Norfolk
Sewage flooded into properties and thousands of fish were killed
One of many bags of dead fish recovered from Spring Dyke
Following a successful prosecution by the Environment Agency, Anglian Water has been fined £300,000 for illegally discharging sewage into a watercourse that feeds into the Broads Special Area of Conservation in Norfolk.
On 5 December 2024, Anglian Water Services Limited was sentenced at Basildon Magistrates Court to pay a fine of £300,000, alongside £21,896.56 in costs and a £171 victim surcharge. Anglian Water pleaded guilty earlier in the year.
The pollution happened on 5 November 2018, when an Anglian Water pumping station in Ormesby St Margaret, Norfolk, discharged untreated sewage into Spring Dyke. The Dyke feeds into Ormesby Broad which is a public water supply and a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Samples taken by Environment Agency officers found high levels of ammonia in the polluted water. Thousands of fish were killed and had to be removed, and many more were seen in distress, so aerators were installed to prevent further impact.
Dead fish floating on the surface of Spring Dyke
The court found that Anglian Water had been negligent and that the incident had caused significant harm. It took 11 days for the water quality in Spring Dyke to recover.
Sentencing Anglian Water, District Judge Williams said that “the effect on wildlife was deadly, with a significant number of fish having died, and a large number seen in a state of distress. There was some impact on local residents and there was also a risk that this could have entered the public water supply.”
The overflow of sewage was caused by a blockage of unflushable items in the pumping well. Anglian Water was aware of issues with the pumping station: 10 sewage discharges have occurred since 2003, but the pumping station does not hold an emergency overflow permit.
Graham Verrier, Environment Agency Area Director for East Anglia, said:
We take our responsibility to protect the environment very seriously. Where significant pollution incidents occur, the Environment Agency investigates and takes action to stop the pollution as quickly as possible and then to take enforcement action where necessary.
The Environment Agency focuses regulatory activities on preventing pollution incidents from happening in the first place, with intelligence from incident reports helping inform and prioritise this work to protect the environment.
Anyone who suspects pollution activity should report it to our 24-hour incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60.
Background
- On 5 November 2018 a discharge of untreated sewage from Ormesby-Decoy Road Pumping Station polluted the watercourse known as Spring Dyke, which connects directly into Ormesby Broad, at Ormesby St Margaret, Norfolk. Ormesby Broad is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and part of The Broads Special Area of Conservation (SAC), designated under the Habitats Directive. Water from Ormesby Broad is also used for public water supply.
- On 23 May 2024, Anglian Water Services Ltd. pleaded guilty to one offence of unlawfully causing a water discharge activity contrary to Regulations 12(1)(b) and 38(1)(a) of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016.
- On 5 December 2024, Anglian Water Services Limited was sentenced at Basildon Magistrates Court to pay £322,066.56, consisting of:
- £300,000 fine
- £21,896.56 costs
- £171 victim surcharge
- Anglian Water has been convicted of 105 offences since 16 November 1990.
- Water company inspections by the Environment Agency will increase to 4,000 by the end of March 2025; 10,000 in 2025/6 and 11,500 in 2026/27. This will increase our inspection and audit work substantially to uncover non-compliance.