Sewage inquiry after fish deaths

Hundreds of fish died after sewage flooded into the stream

Hundreds of dead fish found in a West Sussex stream have led to a clean-up operation and investigation.

The Environment Agency said sewage was entering the stream from an overflow at a Southern Water pumping station.

The water firm was alerted and stopped the discharge at Hickstead from the Malthouse Lane Pumping Station.

Low water made the problem worse with sewage taking longer to wash through, the Agency said. An inquiry is to look at whether the sewage killed the fish.

About 200 dead fish were found in the waterway by a member of the public on Sunday and samples were taken to establish the cause.

Nutrients in the sewage can break down and use up oxygen in the water, making it hard for fish to breathe Steven Usher, Environment Agency officer

The stream has been affected from the pumping station to Twineham, West Sussex.

Steven Usher, Environment Agency officer, said: "Sewage entering a river or stream can have a devastating effect on the wildlife living there.

"Nutrients in the sewage can break down and use up oxygen in the water, making it hard for fish to breathe."

He said "a full and thorough investigation" would be launched to establish how sewage entered the stream and if it killed the fish.

In July, Southern Water was named by the Environment Agency as the most frequently prosecuted and highest fined water company in its southern region.

Southern Water, which takes dirty water from 2m south-east homes, has said a £523m sewage upgrade is under way to cut the number of incidents.

The company said that in the next five years, 97 treatment works and 740km of sewers would be refurbished or replaced.

£450m is being spent on the treatment works programme and £73m is being spent on sewers.

A statement issued by Southern Water on Wednesday said: ""Southern Water staff attended the site as soon as they were made aware of the problem and are working closely with the Environment Agency."