5:02pm Friday 27th February 2009
By Gavin Havery
A WATER company has admitted responsibility for a chemical spill in a river that killed thousands of fish.
An alkaline used at Mosswood treatment plant at Allensford, near Consett in County Durham, escaped into a drain.
It flowed into a burn and into the River Derwent, killing fish for about six miles of the river to Blackhall Mill.
Northumbrian Water has taken responsibility for the contamination of the waters that are popular with trout fisherman.
A spokesman said: "This was a brief but serious spill and a full investigation is underway at the treatment works to establish how it happened and why systems in place to prevent something like this happening failed.
"As soon as the spill was spotted it was stopped and more fresh water was flushed into the river to mitigate any impact.
"Derwent reservoir was also releasing millions of litres into the River Derwent at the time which further diluted any impact."
The spokesman said the spillage has not put the public at risk.
He added: "Northumbrian Water takes its environmental responsibilities very seriously and regrets this incident and will work with the Environment Agency and the local fishing club to repair any damage caused and restock fish that were killed."
It is believed up to 300 brown trout and thousands of other species of fish including grayling, eels and lamprey have been killed. The spill did not create any danger to the public.
The Environment Agency has launched an investigation into the incident.
Officers were alerted on Tuesday. They took water quality samples, monitored fish numbers and assessed the impact on invertebrates and other river life.
Ecological appraisal team leader Jon Shelley said: "We have informed local angling clubs and asked their members to keep an eye out and report any dead fish to us.
"We also are assessing appropriate remedial action, which may include fish restocking."
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