Waterways get all clear after Harper Adams slurry spill
No pollution entered the rivers and streams around Harper Adams University when a sludge power plant collapsed, the Environment Agency has said.
Tonnes of slurry spilled out from the anaerobic digestion plant at the university near Newport in the early hours of May 30.
A big clean-up operation has been under way since, involving officials from Harper Adams and the Environment Agency.
It was the second time that Harper Adams has had problems with its plant, which takes food and farm waste to create power for the campus.
In February 2013 thousands of litres of sludge spilled onto neighbouring farmland and polluted nearby watercourses. But this time none of the processed farm waste made it into the rivers and streams.
A spokesman for the Environment Agency said: "We worked closely with the university and other partners to contain the pollution on site and assess whether there was any impact to the environment.
"Our officers found no evidence that the digestate has entered nearby watercourses or caused environmental pollution. Harper Adams were quick to respond and managed to contain the digestate on site which reduced the risk of damage to watercourses and groundwater. We are now carrying out an investigation into what caused the incident and providing advice to Harper Adams on the procedures for clearing the site."
The vice chancellor of Harper Adams, Dr David Llewellyn, said the spillage has been contained within the plant. He said the collapse also caused damage to three other storage towers and the waste processing building.
"There has been significant damage to the AD plant," he said. "One tank collapsed, and three other storage towers and the adjacent waste processing building were damaged.
"At this stage, there is no clear evidence that there was an explosion. The investigation process is likely to last for several weeks and the university will be working hard to ascertain the cause of this incident, in conjunction with the statutory authorities.
"It will also be important to ensure that the AD industry and others learn from these events and the university will be helping the Environment Agency to ensure that this happens.
"Recovery of the plant could take a number of months. The AD system site is some distance from the main campus so all other university operations are continuing as normal."
The Open Farm event on Sunday was cancelled because of the collapse. Power production has been halted while further tests are carried out.
