Open day celebrates landfill clean-ups

Having worked to protect drinking water from pollution at two former landfill sites near Peterborough, the Environment Agency is set to hold an open day in celebration of its efforts.

The event aims to look at Helpston Groundwater Remediation Scheme and the progress that has been made to reduce contamination levels at the Ben Johnson's Pit and Ailsworth Road landfill sites in Helpston, where tonnes of Mecoprop - a man-made chemical used as an herbicide - were dumped during the 1980s.

It is being held to mark progress made so far in specially treating the public water supplies that were affected.

Spokesperson Norman Robinson said that the project is vital to protect groundwater at Helpston.

"Groundwater accounts for 51 per cent of all drinking water in the Anglian Water region," he stated.

Mr Robinson added that the agency reached a key milestone earlier this year, as it successfully contained the main pollution pathway and is now reducing it.



Written by Lauren Steadman