Following an Environment Agency investigation, The North West’s water provider United Utilities pleaded guilty to introducing thousands of fish into Bessy Brook, a small stream near Bolton, Greater Manchester without a permit.
The unpermitted release of fish from the reservoir to the brook happened whilst testing the reservoir’s scour valve had fatal consequences for over 16,000 fish.
The Company was fined £60,000, plus a £2,000 victim surcharge and £24,098.06 in costs for the offence.
The sentence marks a regulatory milestone as the first time a water company has been sentenced under The Keeping and Introduction of Fish (England and River Esk Catchment Area) Regulations 2015.
Whilst conducting a scour valve test on High Rid Reservoir United Utilities released over 30,000 fish stranding them in the too small and unsuitable environment of Bessy Brook. They quickly brought in a contractor to rescue the fish and were able to save approximately 8,000 by returning them to High Rid Reservoir.
Scour valves are essential components in pressurised water systems like reservoirs, and it is important they are maintained and tested regularly. However, the high-speed discharge killed or injured many of the fish, with some bodies found embedded in bridge walls approximately two feet above the water’s surface, others had missing scales and protruding organs.
The court heard in mitigation the steps that United Utilities Water Limited had taken to prevent this from happening again and confirmed that a subsequent scour valve test had been successfully completed.
They also explained a voluntary donation of £500,000 had been given to Groundwork Greater Manchester for proposed work to Middle Brook Restoration.
