Yorkshire Water pays record £1m civil sanction

Yorkshire Water has paid out £1 million to environmental groups in relation to a historic pollution incident caused by a blocked storm overflow.

The water company voluntarily offered to pay £500,000 to both the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and to Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust and has completed upgrades to the sewer network in the area worth £1.85 million.

The Environment Agency accepted Yorkshire Water’s pay out as appropriate compensation for the incident which took place at Hookstone Beck in 2016.

It makes it the largest ever civil sanction overseen by the Environment Agency.

The Environment Agency said faulty telemetry equipment at the site meant the water company was not alerted to pollution spilling from a permitted combined sewer overflow (CSO).

Water quality in the river was affected for 2.5km downstream of the overflow and almost 1,500 fish were killed, an EA investigation found.

The impact of ammonia on the waterway was assessed together with data from event duration monitors (EDMs) that showed the site was in breach of its permit.

Yorkshire Water explained the incident seven years ago was initially caused by a plank of wood getting into the sewer network and it had updated its operations significantly in the years since.

A spokesperson said: “We’re committed to protecting the environment and our procedures and processes have evolved significantly since 2016, contributing to a halving of pollution incidents in the last five years. Following this incident in 2016, we spent almost £2 million to improve the sewer network in the area to prevent repeat issues.”

The EA said the investigation triggered significant improvements to be made to the sewer network in the area by the water company. The money from the enforcement undertaking will be used to enhance the water environment locally for wildlife and the public.

Undersecretary for the environment Robbie Moore said the penalty demonstrates the polluter pays principle in action.

“Our Plan for Water is all about delivering more investment, stronger regulation and tougher enforcement right across the water sector – and this penalty for Yorkshire Water demonstrates that we will take robust action when required.”

The money will specifically be used for a programme of improvements along the River Nidd by working with catchment partners, communities, organisations and citizen scientists.

Yorkshire’s spokesperson added: “We acted quickly to stop the pollution but understand incidents of this kind are distressing and when things go wrong, we understand we have a responsibility to make it right and to prevent these things from happening at all. Unfortunately, it has taken seven years to reach an agreement with the Environment Agency to donate funds to local wildlife charities that will directly benefit Yorkshire, but we are pleased to have finally provided funds to the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust.”

The EA has been granted powers to fine polluters unlimited penalties for environmental harm.