New Forest river polluted after burglars kill power at treatment works

The facility at Ashurst Bridge, near Totton, was targeted by burglars who cut the power supply and stole cable from a back up generator.

Their actions resulted in wastewater being discharged into Bartley Water, which runs through Totton and Eling.

It follows several other incidents in which the wildlife-rich waterway was contaminated.

Bartley Water runs though part of Totton and Eling (Image: Ian Jerram)

Posting on social media Totton county councillor David Harrison said the break-in had resulted in Bartley Water being hit by "yet more pollution".

He added: "I just can't believe how often our local river is subject to pollution incidents. Surely, for the sake of nature and the environment, we can do rather better than this?"

READ MORE: Sewage flows into wildlife-rich waterway running through Totton and Eling

A Southern Water spokesperson said the incident occurred in the early hours of Monday.

They added: "The intruders cut the power supply and stole cabling for the back-up generator, causing the site’s operations to shut down and wastewater flows to release into Bartley Water. 

"We are working with the Environment Agency to limit the impact of this incident, which will include the use of specialist equipment to improve oxygen levels in the river."

Bartley Water has been the scene of previous pollution incidents (Image: David Harrison/Facebook)

The spokesperson said Southern Water personnel were on site by 4am and made rapid repairs, enabling the facility to resume operations later that morning.

"We used tankers to manage wastewater flows and limit the environmental impact," they said.

An Environment Agency spokesman added: "A pollution incident at Southern Water’s Ashurst Bridge Wastewater Treatment works was reported to us on the morning of Monday, March 20.

"We immediately sent an officer to the site to investigate. The incident was soon resolved but we continue to assess the extent of the impact on the environment."

READ MORE: Southern Water fined £30,000 after 'catastrophic' spill pollutes Bartley Water

In April last year, Bartley Water was polluted by raw sewage after a sewer was blocked by fat, grease, and other waste.

The waterway was contaminated when the blockage resulted in a manhole overflowing near Eling Tide Mill.

Two months ago locals said tankers were using Ashurst Bridge Road day and night and cited what they described as major problems at the treatment works.

They claimed that sewage was spilling into Bartley Water as a result of inadequate infrastructure.

Southern Water said the disruption was down to a burst pipe at Copythorne, adding that increased rainfall had put extra pressure on the sewer system.