Southern Water: Penalised firm admits diesel spill

People have been urged not to go into the water until the diesel spill is cleared up

A water company which was hit with record penalties for leaks of wastewater has admitted to a diesel spill from one of its treatment works.

Southern Water said the fuel had leaked from its treatment works at Swalecliffe in Kent into Swalecliffe Brook.

The company said it was carrying out a "full clean-up operation" and assessing the impact of the spill.

Signs advising people not to go into the water have been put up along the banks of the brook.

A Southern Water spokesman said the company was "working closely" with the Environment Agency.

The Environment Agency said it was dealing with a 300m-long oil slick

The Environment Agency said it had deployed five officers with booms, bungs and oil absorbent pad to tackle the 300m-long oil slick.

"We've identified the source of the pollution and stopped any further oil entering the Swalecliffe Brook. Southern Water Services have been assisting us with the pollution clean-up," a spokeswoman said.

In June Southern Water was hit with a record £126m punishment for spills of wastewater into the environment from its sewage plants and for deliberately misreporting its performance.

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