A CRACKDOWN on waste disposal in the sewers led to a Southall firm being prosecuted and Thames Water highlighting the issue of blockages.

Ivo Textiles, of Trident Way on the International Trading Estate, was found to have breached the conditions of its industrial waste agreement over four years.

Items including ammonia and heavy metals jeopardised the final treated effluent, Thames Water told Uxbridge magistrates.  

The water company took samples in 2021 and 2022, which showed Ivo, a textiles and printing company, had been committing sewer abuse.

It met with Ivo, to encourage the firm to comply with the rules of disposing of waste. However, levels continued to be exceeded, leading to legal action.  

Magistrates imposed fines and costs of more than £71,000 against Ivo, which includes £62,000 to the courts and £11,270 to Thames Water, to cover its legal costs.

Daniel Bourne, Thames Water’s trade effluent manager, said: “Sewer abuse is part of the everyday challenge we face to keep the sewers flowing to remove and treat customers’ wastewater.

“In the year 2023/24, 81% of blockages across our network were caused by items in the sewer which should have never been there in the first place.

“Controlling waste water from industrial premises is critical to ensure we deliver life’s essential service and return clean water to our rivers. 

“Our work to find and stop these offences helps us to maintain our sewer network and protect the environment.

“We will always look to work with individuals and companies, to educate them on the effects sewer abuse has, but we will take legal action as a last resort where the risk is too high.”  

Thames says it removes 75,000 blockages from its sewers at a cost of £18m per year.