Posted: February 28th, 2012 - 8:13pm
Source: Utility Week

South West Water must pay out £39,365 for sewage spills linked to E. coli contamination of oyster beds.
Torbay magistrates heard how blocked pumps at Galmpton were left unrepaired for four days in May 2011 due to communication and administrative failures.
Crude sewage escaped into the River Dart and shellfish from nearby beds was subsequently found to contain 240 times the maximum permitted level of E.coli bacteria.
South West Water missed alarms showing there was a problem as operatives had left the telemetry line unplugged after a previous visit. They had disconnected it to plug in a phone as there was poor mobile signal.
South West Water was fined £37,000 and ordered to pay £2,365 after it pleaded guilty to three offences.