Environment: Water pollution trend reversed

The number of reported water pollution incidents in England Wales dropped for the first time in eight years last year, the Government's environment agency reports today. In 1996 there were 32,409 incidents reported, of which 20,158 were confirmed following investigation. That represents a 14 per cent drop on the 1995 figure for substantiated incidents. The agency, which came into being last year, said the fall was partly due to a lack of rain to wash pollutants into rivers, and also to its own campaigning work and tough policy on prosecuting offenders.

Water Pollution Incidents in England and Wales 1996; pounds 26.