East Midlands Airport pollutes river

AFTER DENYING that it had polluted the *Trent, East Midlands Airport eventually pleaded guilty to polluting the river a report states.

It had denied six charges but then admitted the offences Janet Friend reports.

Denied

The airport had previously denied six charges in a hearing on 13th February 2024, but then pleaded guilty to three offences dating back to January and February 2022.

It was prosecuted by the Environment Agency for breaching regulations.

On Tuesday at Derby Crown Court the airport pleaded guilty to three charges of contravening the requirements of an environmental permit.

De-icer

The waste water that caused the permit breach was from the use of de-icer on the runways, with the discharge exceeding limits for biochemical oxygen demand—an indicator of organic pollution in a water environment.

The higher the BOD, the greater the potential for oxygen levels in the water to fall, which can stress or, in extreme cases, kill aquatic life. The case was adjourned for sentencing at the Derby court on 25th July.

[*It is not understood that the reports told the pollution was in the Trent, as it is the Soar that passes by the airport not the Trent, that is some distance away—Editor.]