A combination of quick-thinking and luck prevented dumped oil causing an environmental "headache" and polluting drinking water to Maldon homes.
The Environment Agency managed to contain the fuel spillage before it reached the River Chelmer because of a call from a passer-by and a boom in place following a similar leak earlier this year.
In a stroke of luck, the workers had not yet removed the previous floating barrier in Baddow Mead Brook, near the Army and Navy roundabout, but were due to take it that day.
Steve Brewers, a spokesman from the agency, said: "We were very lucky the member of public called us and the contractors hadn't removed the boom, which coincidentally, they were going to remove that day.
"The problems could have been much more widespread and affected the amenities. Maybe next time we won't be so lucky."
The brook passes through farmland before entering the River Chelmer, which is not only an area for wildlife but is used for recreation and abstracting drinking water for Maldon.
It is not known who the culprits are for either spillage, the first involving a £9,000 clean-up operation in February to remove an estimated 4,000 litres of waste oil.
An investigation is being carried out by the agency and owners of the system, Anglian Water, to find the polluters. This involves lifting manhole covers in the area to find out which sub-drain the fuel came from.
Mr Brewers said: "We are disappointed that after all the effort we made to clean-up after the last incident, it has happened again.
"We don't know the scale of the spill yet or how large a clean-up operation will be needed but local taxpayers will again have to foot the bill."
He said it is possible that the oil was dumped by a tanker illegally discharging waste oil to a surface water sewer or a highway drain to avoid disposal costs.
But his "gut feeling" is that the waste came from a factory or premises in the area which does not have a properly maintained oil separator.
He said: "It's very annoying. If it had got to the River Chelmer, it would have affected the amenities, killed fish in the area and could have caused problems to the public water supply."
He appealed to anyone with information to call, which will be treated in confidence. Ring the emergency hotline on 0800 80706
Published Tuesday, April 29, 2003
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