Environment Agency launches investigation after raw sewage from a burst Southern Water pipe flooded in to Beaulieu River stream near New Forest Golf Club at Lyndhurst

AN investigation has been launched by the Environment Agency after raw sewage from a burst pipe flooded into a stream which leads to the Beaulieu River.

The incident in August, near the entrance to New Forest Golf Club in Southampton Road, Lyndhurst, was monitored by EA officials for a week.

A BBC reporter filmed video of the waste flowing into the stream.

A spokesperson for the Environment Agency told the A&T it was looking into the incident, and warned it was keeping open all enforcement options – which range from advice and guidance to official warnings and prosecution.

The spokesperson added: “Our officers were on site at Lyndhurst for almost a week from 13th August to mitigate and limit any environmental harm, and gather evidence for our investigation.

“Members of the public who suspect pollution or spot fish in distress should report it to our 24-hour incident hotline immediately on 0800 80 70 60.”

Charles Watson, the New Forest-based founder of River Action – one of the country’s leading river protection organisations – told the A&T: “Obviously, it is just horrific that there has been this industrial accident where a pipe has cracked leading to raw sewage being discharged in to the headwater of the Beaulieu River.

He added the incident was worsened by the fact it had occurred during the last week of the school summer holidays, resulting in the area being full of tourists.

He said: “The Forest was full of thousands of families, people camping and paddling in the river – did anyone tell them? What damage has it done to the eco system?

“In a national park, in a SSSi site [Special Site of Scientific Interest], it is unacceptable.”

He added he looked forward to the outcome of the investigation by the Environment Agency and urged for the information to be publicly disclosed.

Southern Water’s director of wastewater operations, John Penicud, apologised over the incident: “Last month we tackled a burst sewer close to New Forest Golf Club and a subsequent related pollution at our nearby treatment works in Lyndhurst, close to Bartley Water.

“Protecting the environment is our top priority and we are sorry for the distress this incident has caused in such a beautiful area.”

He added: “Our specialist teams worked around the clock to fix the issue and protect the local area, using pumps, tankers and other equipment to restore water quality as quickly as possible.

“We carried out a full environmental and ecological assessment, working with the Environment Agency, which included conducting hundreds of tests.

“We recognise there were certain elements of our response that fell below expectations on this occasion, and – as with all incidents of this type - we have listened, reviewed our processes, and will take those lessons learned forward.”

As reported in the A&T, Southern Water is one of three companies accused of breaching their permits by dry spilling: discharging sewage when it was not raining.