Harper Adams University's leak sealed after fears of pollution
A leak which sparked a pollution scare at Newport's Harper Adams University was finally sealed this afternoon – 36 hours after it first began.
But pollution experts said there was no risk of waste from the tank entering the town's water supply.
Thousands of litres of processed farm waste leaked from the anaerobic digester at the university, in Edgmond, on Tuesday night and throughout yesterday.
Experts said the leak was finally stopped this afternoon. The sludge has flooded farmland and entered nearby rivers.
Severn Trent, which is helping to process the waste at its Rushmoor sewage treatment works, said there would be no impact on drinking water.
Meirion Turner, service delivery manager, said: "We would like to confirm there is no risk this pollution will get into the water supply."
An Environment Agency spokesman said a bund built to contain any leaks failed and the digestate – a by-product from the renewable energy process – flowed in to a nearby field.
Temporary dams were put up to stop more pollution flowing in to watercourses, though a significant amount did get in initially.
Environmental Agency staff are adding hydrogen peroxide to the water at the meeting point of the Rivers Strine and Tern to help wildlife survive.
There have not been any reports of any serious environmental impacts.
The £3m Harper AD plant was built in 2011.
