Water & Wastewater Treatment

www.wwtonline.co.uk | WWT | sepTember 2015 | 5 Southern guilty of East Worthing pollution charge Process engineer Imtech UK says it will continue to trade as normal despite its parent company in the Netherlands filing for administration. Administrators have been appointed at Dutch group Royal Imtech a•er it filed a request to be granted a suspension of payments with the District Court in Rotterdam. The group's German and Belgian subsidiaries have also been declared insolvent. In a statement, the group said it was "very disappointing that a•er all the efforts of all involved it has not proven possible to avoid this situation. Filing for suspension of payments now may optimise the Southern Water has been found guilty of breaching environmental regulations a•er pumping untreated raw sewage into the sea, causing ten miles of beach to be closed for days between Ferring and Lancing in Sussex. Appearing before Chichester Crown Court, Southern Water had denied three charges of breaching environmental permits relating to the incident in September 2012, which was caused by three pumps failing at East Worthing Wastewater Treatment Works. The company was cleared of two charges that related to the proper maintenance of equipment, but found guilty of discharging untreated sewerage effluent from the treatment works. Sentencing was adjourned to a later date. The court heard that chances that substantial parts of the Imtech Group may continue in the interest of all stakeholders and specifically our employees". Imtech UK and Ireland, which includes Imtech Water, Waste & Energy, is continuing to trade as normal and "is not subject to this administration". It said: "Imtech UK and Ireland now operates under the sole control of the UK management and we are continuing to trade. While continuing our business we are also assessing longer-term options and in discussions with interested parties." Royal Imtech's Marine and Nordic divisions are also set to be sold. 40 ML of raw sewage was discharged to the sea following the pump blockage. The Environment Agency told the court that a slick of pollution was visible within hours of the untreated sewage being pumped into the sea; the discharge led to the closure of beaches between Southwick and Ferring for several days. Southern Water said it had activated its emergency plan to discharge sewage into the sea to prevent it backing up in the sewer network and flooding properties, including Worthing hospital. Following the verdict, the company apologised to customers and businesses affected by the incident. Southern Water added that it had since spent around £20M on improvements at the treatment works to avoid a reoccurrence. Royal Imtech goes into administration

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