Two Nottinghamshire firms have been handed a bill of £28,000 after causing serious pollution to a pond which resulted in the death of 35 fish.
The companies, Sutton Grange AD Ltd and Sutton Grange Services Ltd, caused pollution to Bluebell pond after letting maize silage seep into the water.
A total of 35 fish were killed in the pond near Sutton Grange farm in Sutton-cum-Lound, Retford, and the two companies were prosecuted in Mansfield Magistrates' Court on May 10.
Upon a tip-off from a member of the public about a possible fish kill on October 19, 2015, and then further notification of pond pollution, Environment Agency officers investigated and discovered a yellow liquid running across the farmyard.
The officers found oxygen levels in the water to be "extremely low", after the silage ran into a shallow perimeter drain surrounding a maize mound, resulting in the toxic waste leaking into a manhole which discharges to the stone outfall in the pond.
The court heard the local groundwater and pond had been polluted due to the excessive amount of maize stored alongside the way in which it was kept.
The firms pleaded guilty to three charges of breaching environmental regulations which happened because of a failed maize storage and clamping operation at the Anaerobic Digestion Plant (the management of waste or production of biofuels) in the farm.
Sutton Grange AD Ltd was fined £6,000 and Sutton Grange Services Ltd was fined £2,800, each was ordered to pay costs of £10,000 and a victim surcharge of £170.
Sutton Grange AD Ltd held an environmental permit for the anaerobic digestion operations, and the court heard it failed to ensure systems were in place to only allow uncontaminated water into the pond.
Sutton Grange Services had been contracted to carry out clamping operations, and the purpose built clamp and storage of maize had been built on top of the manhole linked to the pond.
In mitigation the court heard both companies had taken a number of steps to improve operations at the site to ensure no further incidents such as this would happen again.
Neither company had any previous convictions and were given credit for their early guilty pleas.
An officer speaking on behalf of the Environment Agency said: "Sutton Grange AD Ltd and Sutton Grange Services Ltd have failed to act in accordance with environmental laws and as a result they have caused pollution to a pond in the close vicinity of the farm and the local groundwater.
"Pollution of any watercourse is a serious offence because of the devastating impact it can have on fish, wildlife and ecosystems.
"These were entirely preventable incidents, which led to the pollution of watercourses in the area and we hope this case sends a strong message to the farming industry that their activities have the potential for serious impacts on the environment.
"We will always take action against anyone who fails to act in accordance with environmental laws and if anyone spots an environmental incident they can report it to the Environment Agency’s 24-hour incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60."
Three criminal brothers ordered to pay back more than £500,000
Dog walker threatened by group of youths and told to hand over money at Bulwell Hall Park
Plant worker, 24, died under machine after rope snapped, inquest told
