NWL was fined a total of £30,000 for two sewage pollution incidents that happened last year, while Severn Trent was fined £7,500 and ordered to pay £2,200 in costs for an incident in 2012.
Investigating officers from the Environment Agency (EA) told Peterlee Magistrates’ Court that a blockage in one of NWL’s storm overflows had discharged sewage into Kyo Burn, the source of the River Team, situated to the south west of Stanley in June.
Another incident occurred in August in Bowburn Beck, which flows into the River Wear, south of Durham City. A blockage in a sewer had caused a manhole cover to lift, allowing sewage to flow out, across a farmland and into the beck.
NWL was informed about the problem, but failed to investigate the issue for four days.
Graham Siddle, environment management team leader at the EA, said: “In both of these incidents, the sewage had a detrimental effect on the natural environment. That’s why it is vital that water companies and other industries ensure they work within the rules and meet all conditions of their environmental permits.”
Separately, Severn Trent yesterday pleaded guilty at Telford Magistrates’ Court to polluting the Pudding Brook in Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire with untreated sewage.
The company was criticised for failing to bring in a second tanker to help to minimise pollution after a blockage caused sewage to discharge from a manhole cover.
Speaking after the case, Adam Shipp, an EA officer, said the incident illustrated the importance for water companies to notify the EA of an incident “at the earliest opportunity”.