The Environment Agency is to launch a campaign at the Lincolnshire Show next week aimed at preventing pollution through surface water drains. The campaign’s symbol will be a yellow fish bearing the message “Only Rain Down The Drain”.

The key elements of the Agency’s message are:

• STOP — before you pour anything down a drain

• THINK — it could pollute a river and kill wildlife.

The focus of the campaign is to increase awareness of what happens when a substance enters a surface water drain. Surface drains outside buildings and houses frequently connect straight to local rivers and watercourses and their purpose is purely to collect and remove excess rainwater.

Consequently, harmful liquids, such as oils, spirits and turpentine, can have a devastating effect on wildlife in rivers and streams if put down these drains. They can poison fish and invertebrates, coat the bed of a river or stream and thus kill off insect life, and deplete the water of oxygen.

The campaign carries the reminder that pollution of a watercourse is an offence under the Water Resources Act 1991, carrying a maximum penalty of a £20,000 fine or 2 months in prison.

Local authorities offer free disposal of waste oil, paint and other substances at their civic amenity sites and household waste recycling centres. Businesses wishing to know more about legitimate disposal of oil and other substances can find the information they need on the Environment Agency’s website at: www.environment-agency.gov.uk.