7.19.1 The number of substantiated pollutionincidents occurring in England and Wales have been reducing year on year, from 25,281 in 2004 down to 19,361 in 2008 (lowest figure over the last six years) with an increase noted in 2009 to a total of 21,458. However, this still marks an overall reduction of 15% in six years (Environment Agency, 2010).
7.19.2 Similarly there has been a steady reduction in pollution incidents across the South West with an overall reduction from 3,534 substantiated pollutions in 2004 [2,532 in 2008], with the South West following the National trend, having an increase in overall incidents to 2,702 in 2009.
7.19.3 However, the 2009 data still shows a reduction over the 2004 figure of 832 incidents (24%) in 6 years, and demonstrates that the reduction in substantiated incident pollution is still being maintained across the South West at
a level greater than the national average.
7.19.4 In comparison to the other Environment Agency regions in England and Wales, the South West had the third highest number of incidents in 2008, but has improved it position in 2009 and is now lying in fourth place. The highest number of incidents were, again, in the Midlands (3,476) followed by the Anglian region (3,001) and now the North East with (2904).
7.19.5 Local Authority Operational Boundary statistics:
7.19.6 Within the South West, Devon had the highest number of pollution incidents with 20% of the regional total. Most counties and unitary authorities in the region also experienced declines in the total number of pollution incidents between 2004 and 2009, (but it is to be noted that the figures for Devon, Dorset and Cornwall Counties increased from the 2008 data). The largest reduction from 2004 was again in Torbay (- 44%). The largest increase was noted in Bournemouth at + 67%, an increase over the 2008 figures. Plymouth improved in 2009 with a small reduction in the number of pollutions over the 2004 base line.
Table 7.19.1 Pollution Incidents within Local Authority Boundary
Incidents by County/Unitary
Authority |
2009
Incidents |
2008
Incidents |
2007
Incidents |
2006
Incidents |
2005
Incidents |
2004
Incidents |
% change 2004
- 2009 |
| City of Plymouth |
56
|
61 |
69
|
79
|
75
|
60
|
-7%
|
| Torbay |
10 |
9 |
15 |
24 |
35 |
18 |
-44% |
| Bath and North East Somerset |
71 |
75 |
89 |
129 |
152 |
113 |
-37% |
| Bournemouth |
40 |
31 |
36 |
32 |
46 |
24 |
+67% |
| City of Bristol |
103 |
114 |
185 |
154 |
140 |
127 |
-19% |
| North Somerset |
85 |
84 |
106 |
138 |
212 |
158 |
-46% |
| Poole |
53 |
28 |
39 |
54 |
72 |
61 |
-13% |
| South Gloucestershire |
86 |
109 |
178 |
139 |
130
|
132
|
-35% |
| Swindon |
35 |
38 |
31 |
36 |
39 |
40 |
-12.5% |
| Cornwall County |
526 |
464 |
507 |
710 |
657 |
738 |
-29% |
| Devon County |
601 |
536 |
641 |
709 |
794 |
810 |
-26% |
| Dorset County |
411 |
268 |
302 |
384 |
403
|
386 |
+6.5% |
| Gloucestershire County |
284 |
290 |
317 |
323 |
270 |
311 |
-9% |
Somerset County
|
347 |
443 |
453 |
555 |
642 |
567 |
-39% |
| Wiltshire |
273 |
280 |
314 |
343 |
346 |
333 |
-18% |
Source: Environment Agency, 2010
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7.19.7 There were a total of 72 Category 1 water pollution incidents (the most serious type) in England in 2009, a decline of 37% on the 115 recorded in 2004. There were 9 substantiated Category 1 water pollution incidents in the South West in 2009, the fourth highest recorded by a region behind the North East (13), Thames (12) and the Midlands (11).
7.19.8 The most common sources of substantiated pollution incidents within the South West having an impact upon the water environment (category 1-3) in 2009 were the water industry (16%), agriculture (11%) and domestic / residential premises (11%). These premises accounted for some 42% of incidents (530 of the total 1,266).
7.19.9 Agriculture causes the most significant number of serious polluting events in the South West (20 serious Category 1 or 2 incidents 2009).
7.19.10 These can be broken down into the types of farm from which the pollution arose:
-
Arable Farms - 1 incident (Category 2)
-
Beef Cattle Farms - 2 incidents (two
-
Category 2 incidents)
-
Dairy Farms - 14 incident (three Category
-
1 and 11 Category 2)
-
1 Pig, 1 Poultry & 1 Other Farms - 3 incidents ( all Category 2 incidents)
7.19.11 The water industry and the domestic and residential sector also account for a high proportion of minor pollution [category 3 incidents] but do not feature as significantly in the more serious incidents [chronic versus acute incidents].
7.19.12 Domestic and residential sector pollution incidents are usually caused by incorrect foul pipe work connections, when instead of connecting ‘grey’ water discharges to the foul sewer they are connected into the surface water system that should only be carrying rain and roof water runoff.
7.19.13 Another problem area relating to foul sewer incidents is the growing issue of blockages often caused by Fats Oils and Greases, which have been ‘dumped’ down the drain and solidify within the sewer system. [Contact your local
Water & Sewerage Company for advice on their disposal, especially if you are in the catering trade].
7.19.14 More information about pollution incidents can be found on the Environment Agency website, with full South West analysis available on the South West Environment website
