Construction Giant Caught Polluting River Don: Contaminated Water Dumped During A19 Roadworks
Costain’s Environment Permit Breach Shocks Local Community
Construction firm Costain Limited has been slammed for dumping contaminated water into the River Don. The mess happened during roadworks at the A19 Testos roundabout back in December 2019. An Environment Agency probe uncovered that polluted water from a road surface cleaning process was allowed to flow down highway drains straight into the river.
Environment Watchdog Spots Toxic Spill
An Environment Agency officer spotted a sediment plume discolouring the river over 500 metres. The contaminated water bypassed Costain’s sediment treatment systems, causing visible damage to the local waterway.
Costain Forced To Act: Charity Donation Part of Deal
Facing the fallout, Costain handed over an Enforcement Undertaking — a voluntary pledge to fix their environmental foul-up. As part of the deal, they will donate to the Tyne Rivers Trust, a charity dedicated to cleaning up and conserving rivers in the region, including efforts to improve the River Don’s water quality.
Agency Warns: Strict Rules for Construction Firms
“Companies carrying out major work must stick to their permits to protect the environment. We won’t hesitate to take action when pollution occurs,” said Josh Laidler, lead investigator from the Environment Agency.
Laidler added that Enforcement Undertakings give polluters a chance to make amends while supporting local environmental causes.
Costain Clamps Down on Pollution
Since the incident, Costain has overhauled its site procedures with new monitoring and maintenance plans, plus extra staff training. There have been no further pollution incidents and no lasting damage detected in the River Don.
