Chemical kill on the Kennet - UPDATE: Restrictions lifted

9 July 2013 – DF/XXX/13

Restrictions on the Kennet lifted but Environment Agency investigation continues

The Environment Agency is still appealing to the public for information about where a pesticide that polluted the River Kennet between Marlborough and Hungerford last week came from.

Environment Agency officers have been investigating the source of the pollution, believed to be chlorpyrifos, a common agricultural pesticide, and have been taking samples to assess the impacts on the water quality.

Samples taken last week and over the weekend show that the pesticide has dissipated naturally with the water flow and levels have dropped significantly since last week.

Public Health England continues to work in partnership with the Environment Agency and Wiltshire and West Berkshire Council after a pesticide polluted the River Kennet between Marlborough and Hungerford.

Following the latest round of water sample results, Public Health England has advised that the previous restrictions asking the public and pets to avoid skin contact with the water can be removed. The Food Standards Agency has also advised that there should be no restrictions on eating fish caught in the river.

Paul Hudson from the Environment Agency said: “It is obviously great news that the pesticide has dissipated naturally and that the precautionary restrictions put in place have been removed following advice from Public Health England and the Food Standards Agency.

“We are still trying to trace the source of the pesticide, and we would appeal for anyone who has information to come forward so that we can take steps to educate those responsible and others to try to prevent it from happening again.

“We are also meeting with business owners along the Kennet regularly to keep them informed of the latest information.”

Environment Agency investigations have shown that many macro-invertebrates were killed last week, but there have been no reports of any fish killed.

Anyone with any information about this incident, or any pollution or environment incident, should contact us by calling our hotline number 0800 80 70 60.

Ends

Chemical kill on the Kennet

The following warning has been issued with regard to the River Kennet:

"Environment Agency investigating pollution on the River Kennet

04-Jul-2013
 

The Environment Agency is appealing to the public for information about a pesticide that has polluted the River Kennet between Marlborough and Hungerford.

 

Environment Agency officers have been investigating the source of the pollution, believed to be chlorpyrifos, a common agricultural pesticide, and have been taking samples to assess the impacts on the water quality.

Investigations have shown that many macro-invertebrates have been killed, but there have been no reports of any fish killed.

Public Health England, working in partnership with the Environment Agency and Wiltshire and West Berkshire Councils, has advised the public to avoid skin contact with the water in the river until the exact concentrations and impacts of the pesticide have been determined. People are also being advised not to fish or to eat any fish caught in this stretch of the river at this time.

Paul Hudson from the Environment Agency said: “We have had officers out this week sampling the river as part of our investigation, and we will be back on site tomorrow and throughout the weekend to continue to monitor the impacts and any longer term issues.

“There are numerous locations and ways it could have entered the sewage treatment works before it reached the river, and we are appealing for any information anyone has about how this happened.“

“The levels in the river are not believed to be harmful, particularly as there has been no impact on fish in the river, but Public Health England has advised that people should avoid contact with the skin and keep their pets away from the water until further information is available.”

“Our main aim now is to investigate what has happened here, mitigate the impacts on the aquatic wildlife and take steps to educate those responsible and others to try to prevent it from happening again. We will also continue to keep river users along the Kennet informed as our investigation continues.”

“We are appealing to anyone with any information about this incident to get in contact with us by calling our hotline number 0800 80 70 60.”

Warning signs (often accompanied by a copy of the above statement) have been placed alongside numerous points of potential access to the upper reach of the River Kennet from Mildenhall...

...down to Eddington at Hungerford.

Barbel Bar wave shaping up for the sunshine

The small playable wave that forms below Barbel Bar weir was looking in nice form on the way home from work on Thursday evening.  Just right for some fun in the coming weekend sunshine...