ENVIRONMENT Agency chiefs have urged city businesses and householders to check their oil tanks and ensure they dispose of oil and fuel in the correct and safe way.
The call came after environment officers dealt with a number of incidents over the past weeks where oil has polluted the Worcester and Birmingham Canal in areas such as Ronkswood, Brickfields, Tolladine and Rainbow Hill.
The pollution on a two-mile stretch of the waterway led to seven swans needing treatment from Wychbold Swan Rescue and Bishops Wood Swan Rescue.
Dave Throup from the Environment Agency said: “We are working with the Canal and River Trust to stop diesel and other oils entering the canal, and to trace the source of this oil.
“We are asking business and householders in Worcestershire to check any oil tanks or underground oil pipes on their property to make sure they aren’t leaking, and to make people aware never to pour oil or fuel down the drain.”
There are a number of Household Recycling Centres which will accept small quantities of oil from members of the public and businesses must ensure their waste oil is collected by a registered waste carrier, which can be found on the GOV.UK website.
