Thousands of litres drained after sewage leaks into Walsall beauty spot
Thousands of litres of sewage have been drained from a burst pipe after it began leaking into a pool at a nearby beauty spot.
Environment agency staff have worked tirelessly to try to prevent harm to animals at Stubbers Green nature reserve in Walsall Wood over the last three days.
Severn Trent Water confirmed that the leak had led to sewage entering into the Swan and Swag Pools at the popular site.
The pipe burst at a nearby farm, off Green Lane, with the sewage coming from a nearby housing estate, while the adjoining Camden Street was closed to motorists as work was carried out to repair it.
Walsall Council yesterday announced that Green Lane would remain closed until October 14 between the junctions of Oakwood Close and Mob Lane for urgent sewer pumping station repairs, with signed diversions in place.
The Environment Agency and Severn Trent Water have been on the scene since Tuesday testing the watercourses and taking samples.
In order to prevent the sewage from reaching the nature reserve, 24 24,000-litre tankers worth of sewage have been drained over the course of three days.
At this stage, the pollution has not led to the deaths of any fish or caused any distress to wildlife.
Environment Agency spokeswoman Suzanne Ward said: "We were contacted by Severn Trent Water who informed us about a problem with a rising main pipe carrying sewage close to Swan and Swag Pools in Walsall Wood.
"The Environment Agency sent officers to the scene to assess the environmental impact on the local water course and to work with Severn Trent to contain the pollution.
"Our priority is to minimise any impact on the community and environment from the pollution.
"We have had no reports of any dead fish, nor of any fish in distress. The Environment Agency is deploying aeration equipment as a precaution."
Officers returned to the scene on Wednesday and Thursday, using a large digger to carry out remedial work.
Severn Trent has stopped the pollution at the source while work to fix the problem is being carried out.
To report fish in distress, call the Environment Agency on 0800 80 70 60.
