Source of Walsall canal's sodium cyanide spillage is identified

The Environment Agency has confirmed that the serious chemical spill incident in Walsall is believed to have originated from a company called Anochrome Ltd on Reservoir Place.

A spokesman for the Environment Agency said: "The Environment Agency (EA) is working with other agencies across the West Midlands to treat a chemical spillage into a canal in Walsall.

"The EA is undertaking a detailed testing programme of the water for sodium cyanide and other chemicals.

"Our priority is to understand the impact on wildlife and the environment and to protect against further damage.

"The source of the spill is believed to have originated from a company called Anochrome Ltd, Reservoir Place and has been stopped.

"The company is under investigation by the Environment Agency to establish the cause of the spill."

The public are continuing to be urged to avoid extended areas of the Walsall Canal as work continues to treat the chemical spillage.

Walsall Council sent out an updated statement concerning the chemical spillage in the canal, which has been found to include sodium cyanide and which is being treated as a major incident and with a multi-agency response.

The spokesman for the Environment Agency said: "We are working closely with Walsall Council and the UK Health Security Agency to respond to the serious chemical spill incident in Walsall and to assess the impact on the environment.

"We are now investigating the company that is believed to have caused this incident.

"Pollution of this kind is unacceptable and the impact on wildlife and the environment can be severe.

"We will take robust enforcement action if non-compliance is uncovered.

"We have established a sampling and testing programme and urge the public to follow safety advice given by the local council."

The Environment Agency, UKHSA, Walsall and Sandwell Councils, West Midlands Police, West Midlands Fire, West Midlands Ambulance Service, the Canal & River Trust and Severn Trent Water have been working together as the West Midlands Local Resilience Forum since the spillage was reported on Monday evening.

This has involved testing of the canal water and an investigation into the cause of the spillage, while the public have been urged to stay away from the affected areas, which include Walsall, Rushall, Ryders Green and Perry Barr Locks.

The spillage has led to reports of dead fish seen floating on the top of the water since it was reported, while anyone who has had direct physical contact with the water in the affected stretch of canal and is feeling unwell has been advised to seek medical help.

A spokesman for Walsall Council said: "Our priority is the safety of our residents and canal users. Local, regional and national agencies are working together to minimise the potential risk to health.

"The West Midlands Local Resilience Forum is treating the chemical spillage into a canal in Walsall as a major incident, with a multi-agency response.

"The spillage, which includes sodium cyanide has gone into the canal in Walsall and as a precautionary measure, we are asking the public to avoid an extended area of the canal and towpaths from the Walsall lock flight to the lock flights at Rushall/Ryders Green and Perry Barr (see map).

"Testing of the canal water is underway and is being managed by the Environment Agency.

"Sodium Cyanide dissolves in water and can have serious adverse health effects for those who come into direct physical contact with it.

"There is a potential serious risk to health if you or your pets are exposed (direct physical contact with the water) in the affected stretch of the canal.

"Anyone who has been exposed (direct physical contact) along the affected stretch of canal water and is feeling unwell, should seek health advice via 111 or 999 in an emergency.

"The source of the spillage has been identified and stopped and an investigation is underway into its cause."

A spokesman for Anochrome Ltd said: "We can confirm that a chemical incident occurred at Anochrome Ltd Walsall in the early hours of Monday, August 12.

"Regrettably, as a result, some of the released chemicals entered a canal in Walsall.

"Our immediate response was to notify the Environment Agency and Severn Trent Water.

"Our senior management team has been, and remain, on-site working collaboratively with all relevant authorities and agencies to minimise and contain the spill.

"In addition, from the moment we were aware of the incident, we have made all our facilities available to the authorities and agencies in attendance, including inhouse laboratory testing facilities.

"The safety of our community and the environment is our top priority.

"We are focused on limiting the impact of this incident and will provide further updates as they become available.