Water quality news: Landowner fined over silt discharge

Water quality news: Landowner fined over silt discharge

A landowner in Cornwall has been fined by the Environment Agency over the illegal discharge of silt into the River Ruthern.

John Drake of Higher Tregawne, Withiel near Bodmin, was ordered to pay a total of £3,000 in fines and costs after he caused silt to enter the waterway while carrying out work on an ornamental lake.

Members of the public reported discolouration in the river on August 30th 2007 and the Environment Agency's subsequent investigation traced the silt back to a lake on Mr Drake's farm.

Investigators found that a retaining wall had been removed, resulting in a "significant amount" of silt and mud being washed into the river - discolouring a four-kilometre stretch of the waterway.

Mr Drake had failed to obtain consent from the agency before carrying out the maintenance to the lake.

Speaking on behalf of the Environment Agency Malcolm Newton said: "Material dredged from lakes and ponds is potentially harmful to river life, especially when it is released in large quantities as happened in this case."

The River Ruthern is a tributary of the River Camel, which was designated a site of special scientific interest in 1998.

Posted by Claire Manning