16
www.bradleystokejournal.co.uk
t: 01454 300 400
September 2021
News Sewage overflow devastates wildlife in Three Brooks Lake
A
blockage in a sewer pipe is thought to have led to a pollution incident that has had devastating consequences for aquatic wildlife in Bradley Stoke’s Three Brooks Lake. The first signs that something was amiss came on the morning of Friday 27th August when members of the Three Brooks Nature Conservation Group had a scheduled meeting with officers from South Gloucestershire Council at the lake to discuss potential improvements. Having noticed signs of fish struggling to breathe and dying, the Environment Agency (EA) was immediately alerted via its pollution incident hotline. Officers from the EA and Wessex Water visited the site that afternoon and notices were erected around the lake warning people of the incident and
advising them not to allow dogs in the water. In response to an enquiry from the Journal, an EA spokesperson said: “The Environment Agency received a call at 11.17am on Friday 27th August about suspected pollution in Three Brooks Lake, Bradley Stoke. Environment Officers attended the scene to assess the extent of the pollution and gather evidence. Environment Officers also contacted Wessex Water to help trace the source of pollution.” “By mid-afternoon on Friday, Wessex Water had installed aerators that were used throughout the weekend to try and increase the oxygen availability for the fish present. Environment officers have continued to attend the site to monitor the lake.”
Home visits available in Bradley Stoke and the wider Bristol area, normally within 48 hours, if needed • Website: www.ear-clean.co.uk
Scores of dead and dying fish on the surface of the lake on Friday 27th August [Photo credit: Simon Hunter / @simonhunter_1 on Twitter]
“The Environment Agency are working with partners to identify the cause of the pollution and will continue to monitor the situation and take action where required.” The Journal also contacted Wessex Water, whose spokesperson said: “Unfortunately on Friday 27th August a sewer pipe which runs through Three Brooks local nature reserve had burst due to a blockage caused mostly by cooking fat, oil and grease.” “While we are yet to determine the source of this fat build-up, we would like to remind customers in the area to dispose of kitchen waste safely in the bin or a food waste recycling bag. And for business customers to ensure any commercial kitchens or food production areas have correctly sized fat traps to store fat ready for collection and safe disposal.” “We are working closely with the Environment Agency to resolve this incident.” The spokesperson made it clear that the sewage had not escaped
A warning notice posted at the lake
from the Frome Valley Relief Sewer, an underground pipeline that was tunnelled under the M4 motorway from a site very close to the lake just three years ago. Local sources suspect that the pollution originated from Hortham Brook, which flows under the motorway and merges with Patchway Brook a few hundred metres north of the lake.
One of two aerators in use at the lake on Sunday 29th August
To advertise in this magazine or on our websites, phone The Journal’s sales team on 01454 300 400