Ryther pollution blamed on leaking heating oil
People who live in Ryther are being asked to check their domestic oil heating systems following the discovery of a pollutant in the village’s drains.
Tadcaster
The message is being put out by the Environment Agency following reports of a diesel-like smell in the outflow of the surface water drainage system. The drain leads into the River Wharfe prompting fears the river could become polluted.
Many homes in Ryther, which is not connected to the national gas grid, are heated using oil systems. It is thought that either a tank or a connecting pipe may have a leak.
The pollutant is not present in large volumes and it is not considered to be posing a major risk for the environment, but residents should still check their systems for any possible leaks.
Alison Berry, environment officer at the Environment Agency, said: “Fortunately the oil pollution in the drains at Ryther is only slight, but we are keen to stop the diesel getting into the watercourse. We are also keen to highlight this to the householder who may be losing valuable fuel stocks without knowing it.
“If you do discover that your heating system is leaking, we can offer you advice and support on how to prevent it and how to store heating oil in a way that doesn’t pose a risk to the environment. Call us on 0800 807060 and we’ll be happy to help.”