Speaking today (July 5) Simon Cocks, waste water services director, for Severn Trent Water said the system was not designed to deal with solvents.

Mr Cocks spoke out after his firm, last week, took action against a company called Solvents with Safety.

The firm was prosecuted at Doncaster magistrates Court, last Tuesday, following the leak which was traced to them in May last year.

The court heard that during the accident ‘large amounts’ of a solvent poured into a sewer and passed through the sewerage system ‘causing significant damage’ to Severn Trent’s sewage treatment works in Harworth.

Mr Cocks said: “Solvents cause untold damage to our sewer network; this is because the treatment process at our works is not designed to cope with such materials.

“Rather than having to take action in court, we would prefer to work together to prevent any breaches occurring in the first place.

“However, as well as risking damage to the environment, pouring any kind of illegal solvents into a sewer damages the sewer network and the treatment works, which our customers pay for, so it is important that we prosecute offenders in appropriate cases and take action to recover costs where possible.”

Solvents with Safety, admitted the fault and was fined £1,000 for discharging solvents into the Severn Trent Water sewer network.

The Company has also been ordered to pay legal costs of £5,000 and a further £5000 in compensation to Severn Trent.

Luke Walsh

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