Basingstoke Canal pollution

Published: Wednesday, 20 April 2011

THAMES Water has been fined for allowing raw sewage into the Basingstoke Canal, killing hundreds of fish.

The Environment Agency was alerted to the smell of the canal and that dead fish were floating on its surface, so investigated, Alan Tilbury tells us.

Admitted

Over 200 fish were found dead at Woking, and Thames Water admitted at Woking Magistrates' Court to allowing pollution to enter the canal.

Readings taken by the Environment Agency at the time found low levels of oxygen but high levels of pollution, that was caused by a sewer that had not been maintained properly.

Thames Water was fined £12,000 and ordered to pay £5,000 costs.