A CRACKDOWN on sewer abuse in the food industry has led to two firms being ordered to pay a combined total of £262,500 in fines and costs.

Kolak Snack Foods, of Park Royal, were prosecuted at Willesden Magistrates Court.

The firm, which is required to treat its own waste before discharging it into the sewers, was found to have knowingly disposed of only partially-treated effluent consisting of food solids and fats.

This was discovered when Thames Water investigated a blockage in the foul sewer that had caused a pollution in the River Brent.  

The prosecution came from one single sample, where Kolak was ordered to pay a fine of £152,000 to the courts and an additional £16,000 to Thames Water to cover legal and operational costs.

Further, the Environment Agency later issued a warning letter to Kolak for the pollution. 

Taiko Foods, of Acton, also appeared before Willesden magistrates for 13 offences, which included the disposal of chemicals, solids and fats down the sewers.

These had the potential to cause blockages, flooding and pollution in the area. The company was fined £88,500 and ordered to pay Thames Water £6,000 in costs.   

Tess Fayers, waste and bio-resources director at Thames Water, said: “Sewer abuse is part of the everyday challenge we face to keep the sewers flowing.  

“It is vital that we all (at home or at work) follow the rules to dispose of our waste in a manner that is safe.

Discarded food solids, fats and grease congeal and block sewers.  These ‘fatbergs’ can then lead to flooding of customer homes or pollution in our rivers. 

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

Lewis Elmes, catchment co-ordinator for the Environment Agency in North London, said: “Pollution comes from many different sources, such as road run-off, misuse of the drainage system and wrongly-connected pipes, all of which risk harming water life in the River Brent.  

“We continue to work with [Thames Water], local authorities and organisations that make up the Brent Catchment Partnership to improve water quality in the river. 

“Anyone who suspects pollution in our waterways can call our 24-incident hotline: 0800 807060.” 

Sewer abuse is a major issue for water companies. Every year, Thames Water removes 75,000 blockages from their sewers at a cost of £18m.