United Utilities is reminding businesses to stick to agreed limits regarding trade effluent consent after a Cheshire business was fined £15,000 for breaking the law.
Runcorn Magistrates Court found O'Neill Fuels Ltd guilty on three counts of discharging trade effluent with excessive amounts of oil and grease and total toxic metals into the public sewer. Breaking the terms of a discharge consent is an offence under the Water Industry Act 1991.
O'Neill Fuels Ltd was ordered to pay £15,000 to United Utilities - which brought the prosecution - and a further £8,734 in costs.
Unlike domestic customers, traders do not have an automatic right to discharge waste into the public sewer system. Owners of companies who produce effluent on their premises as part of their trade or industry must apply for a special consent to discharge.
Utilities companies can grant consent subject to certain conditions, such as limits on the amount of waste that can be discharged.
United Utilities is now hoping the latest court decision will remind other companies about the importance of sticking to agreed limits.
Paul Forshaw, Trade Effluent Manager for United Utilities said:
"Limits on trade effluent are there to protect the environment and the general public and prevent problems such as sewer blockages. It's vitally important that companies follow the rules.
"Oils and grease can be especially difficult to treat in high concentrations. We would like to remind companies that it is a criminal offence to discharge trade effluent into the public sewer without consent or in breach of consent conditions."
United Utilities has discharge consent agreements with approximately 3,500 businesses across the North West.
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