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Dozens of fish killed in sewage leak at Swalecliffe Brook near Whitstable

17:00, 22 July 2013

updated: 17:29, 22 July 2013

Sewage being pumped from Swalecliffe Brook
Sewage being pumped from Swalecliffe Brook

A water company has apologised after sewage flowed into a stream and killed dozens of fish.

Pollution entered Swalecliffe Brook following a pump failure at a Southern Water treatment works on Saturday.

It has not known exactly how many fish - including eels - died amid the leak at Brook Road Wastewater Pump Station, in Swalecliffe, near Whitstable.

The firm said the site is now working as it should, but it is carrying out 24-hour surveillance as a precaution.

Nick Easton, from Kite Farm, claimed the incident has left many fish - including eels - dead and has taken photographs.

Southern Water spokesman Leilah Nicola said: "Mitigating any environmental impact, while ensuring disturbance to customers is kept to a minimum, is a priority for us.

"Customer service teams are in the area updating residents and we continue to liaise with the Environment Agency.

"We know incidents like this are unacceptable and we will be carrying out a full investigation to find out what happened."

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