Environmental and major water pollution
This could be a biological substances release or a pollution incident impacting on controlled watercourses, such as a chemical spillage or release or untreated sewage.
Negative effects might include:
- Ill health.
- Persistent and/or extensive negative effects on water quality.
- Damage to wildlife and the environment.
- Economic effects to agriculture and tourism economy.
Who can be affected?
Those at risk of contamination include:
- Public using the amenity.
- Businesses operating on or by the immediate watercourse and downstream of the occurrence.
- Providers of drinking water using abstracted water.
- The aquatic environment.
What are we doing in County Durham and Darlington?
We work together to:
- Understand the risks.
- Reduce the risk through provision of advice and regulation.
- Develop multi-agency plans for sites and situations posing a risk to the environment.
- Test and exercise those plans.
- Look out for and observe advice and guidance from the NHS, water companies and Environment Agency.
- If you are vulnerable, register with your water company as a vulnerable customer.
- If you see anything that poses a risk or notice a pollution incident, notify the Environment Agency on 0800 80 70 60.
Where can you get further information?
- Environment Agency - water pollution [external link]
- Public Health England [external link]
- Northumbrian Water [external link]