Test results of a mystery blue chemical spill polluting a brook in Exmouth are being kept under wraps so not to jeopardise an ongoing probe or legal action.
The recent discovery of discoloured water discovered in Littleham Brook sparked investigations by the Environment Agency (EA), which it confirmed was not sewage.
While the Environment Agency has linked the chemical spill to a specific location in Exmouth, it is remaining tight-lipped about the details, fearing the information could compromise its work bringing any culprits to justice.
An Environment Agency spokesperson said: “We understand people want to know exactly what the pollutant was. At this stage, we’re unable to share further details as doing so could compromise our ongoing investigation and any future legal proceedings.
“What we can confirm is that this was linked to a chemical spill from premises in Exmouth and was not sewage pollution.”
The Environment Agency is investigating how the water at Littleham Brook, in Exmouth, has turned bright blue
Photos: The Environment Agency.
After water samples were tested and the results reviewed by the UK Health Security Agency, to assess any risk to public health, a no-swim warning was lifted for Exmouth beach.
But people and pets are urged to stay out of Littleham Brook as work continues to remove the remining pollution.
While some chemical remains among the sediment at the bottom of the stream, overall the brook is said to be ‘improving’.
But the EA stressed the sediment on the bed of the brook must not be disturbed amid the clean-up.
It said its officers had contained most of the pollutant with sandbags and were now working with specialist contractors, looking at ways to remove the remaining chemical.
The EA said it was continuing to monitor the water amid a weekend forecast for rain.
It said there was ‘currently no evidence’ of the pollution reaching the sea, but heavy rainfall could carry the chemical downstream, resulting in a change in conditions.
A no-swim warning at Exmouth could be reinstated by the EA if bathing water quality was found to be affected by a change in weather.
Environment Agency officers have banked up sandbags in Littleham Brook, Exmouth, in a bid to contain the pollution which turned the water bright blue. Photo: The Environment Agency.
The EA spokesperson confirmed it had lifted its advice against bathing at Exmouth following the results from water samples and advice from the UK Health Security Agency, but urged swimmers and beach users to check Swimfo for the latest information before heading for the sea.
The EA said: “People and pets should continue to avoid Littleham Brook, where a warning remains in place as work continues to remove the remaining pollution.”
“Our officers contained much of the pollutant in the brook and are working with specialist contractors on the next phase of clean-up, while continuing to monitor conditions closely.”
The results of pollution samples taken Littleham Brook where the water turned bright blue were scrutinised by government officials in charge of public health amid a criminal investigation.
Early investigations had pointed to an ‘industrial’ source for the water turning turquoise.
As the probe continued, and the bright blue substance continued to move downstream, the pollution was graded as a Category One, confirmed as the ‘most serious’.
The level was determined by the severity of the environmental impact and time the stream will take to recover from the chemical spill.
