Southern Water seeks expert help as oil pollutes River Test

Southern Water says oil has seeped into the ground and reeds are also harbouring oil on the River Test after pollutants flowed down into the area from its surface water network near Nursling.

Swans and fish are said to be in distress with one photo circulating of what is claimed to be a dead cygnet in the water.

Now Southern Water says it is seeking expert advice on cleaning the area of the chemicals after the original source of the oil spill, which was previously said to be two motoring businesses in the nearby industrial estate, was stopped by the business owner.

• Swans dead after contaminated water flows into River Test

A Southern Water spokesperson said: "We continue to assist with this pollution event and to work extremely hard in an area of the River Test to contain oil spilled by a third party from the nearby Industrial estate. Our priority is to continue to mitigate against the environmental impact this third party pollution may have.

"We have had our own ecologists onsite supporting these efforts and are working closely with both the Environment Agency and Natural England.

"The third party company who reported the spill to the Environment Agency in mid-June, is also undertaking clean-up and mitigation action.

"Our priority remains preventing as much oil as possible from being washed further down the river."

• 'No evidence of distressed wildlife' in River Test says water company
• Oil pollutes habitats at Lower Test nature reserve

Since the incident started, the company claims it has "greatly increased" the number of absorbent booms to block the oil’s path as well as bringing in tankers to suck away the oil and take it to a temporary processing plant.

Despite this though, conservationists say they are "extremely concerned" as wildlife is said to be suffering as a result.

The Southern Water spokesperson added: "We wish to assure everyone that we have undertaken thorough inspections of the area.

"So far we have done all we can to inspect the river to continue to look for evidence to aid this ongoing legal investigation.

"Even though the responsibility for the pollution and the clean-up rests with others, we are looking to undertake further environmental sampling."