Thames Water heads pollution list

Serious environmental damage incidents rose in 2005

Thames Water was fined more than any other firm in England and Wales
for pollution last year, the Environment Agency has said.

The company, which received penalties totalling £128,000, was joined
by other water giants Southern, Severn Trent and United Utilities in
the top 10 list.

Overall, major environmental damage rose 7%, with the waste and farming
sectors also among the worst offenders.

Thames said it was working hard to improve performance on pollution.

Developing plan

The Environment Agency said 32% of water firm pollution incidents were
reported to it by the companies themselves last year, up from 28% in
2004.

It said it was developing a plan to improve the sector's pollution
record further.

Waste firm Sundorne Products (Llanidloes) came in second place in the
list detailing fines, with penalties of £97,750, followed by chemical
firm Robinson Brothers, which was fined £63,000.

One of the Environment Agency's own subcontractors caused a major
pollution incident in 2005 which resulted in a prosecution and fines
for both, its report noted.

"This illustrates both the need for all businesses to ensure the good
environmental performance of their supply chain, and the damage that
environmental harm can do to your reputation," it said.