Dow fined for herbicide spill

Last July, Dow reported a herbicide leak at its Kings Lynn works to the Agency. A leaking container of fluroxypyr had been placed in a storage area which staff believed to be isolated from surface water drains. In fact the drains led into a tributary of the North Lynn Drain.

Agency inspectors found that the watercourse contained up to 21.5mg/l of the herbicide. The watercourse was blocked off and its contents pumped back into the site effluent system.

On 12 June, Dow pleaded guilty before Kings Lynn magistrates to a charge of polluting controlled waters under section 85(1) of the Water Resources Act 1991. It was fined £2,000, with costs of £842.