Yorkshire Water up in court over sewage pollution incident on Bradford Beck

Yorkshire Water is being prosecuted by the Environment Agency over a sewage pollution incident which allegedly had a devastating impact on wildlife in Bradford Beck.

Yorkshire Water appeared at Leeds Magistrates Court today charged with two counts of knowingly causing or permitting a person to operate a regulated facility without authorisation of environmental permit in 2018 and 2017, and four counts of failing to comply with or contravene environmental permit conditions in 2017.

The allegations date back to 2018, when Bradford Beck, a major tributary of the River Aire, was affected by a prolonged sewage discharge in Bradford city centre.

A group of citizen scientists who monitor the waterway then submitted evidence to the Environment Agency, who launched a full investigation - including findings of the impact the discharge had on wildlife in the river, such as fish and invertebrates.