Lewisham company charged for causing acid leak into a stream.

The Environment Agency has prosecuted Streamline Environmental Services for causing hydrochloric acid  to leak into a stream.

Streamline Environmental Services of Brownhill Road, Lewisham appeared at Greenwich Magistrates’ Court on Monday 7 November and pleaded guilty to the offence which took place at the Ferriers Lane Estate but which polluted the River Quaggy in Lewisham. The company was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay costs of £5,321.72 as well as a victim surcharge of £15, totalling £10,336.72.

The court heard that the firm had been contracted by Mitie Ltd  to descale two of the boilers using powerful hydrochloric acid. The acid was poured into the boiler for two days and left overnight for the descaling to occur. On the third day the defendant discovered the surface area was flooded; and a leak was evident from the base of the boiler. A tank was then placed under the leak and the remaining fluid drained off. The surface area was then washed down without any neutralising material added and a pipe was put from the boiler into a drain which led to the outfall pipe into the River Quaggy.

The resultant discharge into the river killed fish and invertebrates (including freshwater shrimp that lived in the river) and turned the water reddish brown. A member of the public reported seeing environmental damage in the river as far as the eye could see in both directions.

Peter Ehmann of the Environment Agency said: “This incident could have been prevented or substantially ameliorated if the company had taken proper precautions before and after the leak  to avoid potentially lethal chemicals leaking or being washed into the drain and ultimately into the river.   The offence was aggravated by the defendant’s behaviour  which fell far below the standard expected of a competent contractor handling such hazardous substance.”

“We take this sort of incident very seriously. A lot of hard work has gone in to improving the River Quaggy as a vital habitat for fish and other wildlife over the years and this pollution is a significant step backwards. We hope this serves as a reminder to all those who work with potential pollutants to take their responsibilities seriously. The release of acid has devastated wildlife, which could have been prevented had proper procedures been in place.”
 
Anyone who sees pollution in a watercourse should contact the Environment Agency’s Incident Hotline on 0800 80 70 60.