GREEN watchdog the Environment Agency has begun a crackdown on water pollution after being given new powers.

Spills from factories, building sites and homes have affected around 28 kilometres of watercourses in East Lancashire so far this year.

In recent months the Environment Agency has been called to pollution incidents at Pendle Water, Barrowford, the River Calder at Padiham and Whalley, Clough Brook at Huncoat, Mearley Brook, Clitheroe and Habergham Clough, Burnley.

The agency believes such incidents could be prevented if people and businesses took a few simple steps. New legislation means the agency is now able to go directly to the person responsible for a site or premises threatening to pollute water and require them to take preventative measures.

The company or plant will have to pay for the action.

Agency officers can now serve a notice outlining what the company needs to do and giving a deadline for the completion of the work.

Businesses which fail to comply can be prosecuted. The agency can fix the problem and then charge the clean-up costs to the business. Mike Chandler, the agency's regional pollution prevention officer, said: "In the past we could only consult and negotiate with most companies.

"Works notices give us the ability to ensure companies introduce preventative measures and prevent water pollution from occurring."

People are being asked to help in the fight against water pollution by checking for oil spills.

If an oil spill does occur the agency should be contacted on 0800 807060.

Anyone found guilty of polluting a watercourse can be fined up to £20,000, a prison sentence or both. Clean up costs - recoverable from the polluter - can also run into thousands of pounds.

Pollution prevention advice is available from the agency on 0645 333111.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.