A dairy distribution depot in Essex has been fined £30,000 for allowing milk to escape from their premises and pollute a watercourse in Barking.

Medina Dairy Ltd of Gallions Close, Thames Road, Barking, pleaded guilty at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court last week to causing pollution to the Buzzards Mouth Sewer in Barking, Essex. The company was fined £30,000 by Barkingside Magistrates Court and ordered to pay Environment Agency costs of £7853 and £15 victim charge.

The issue was first detected by an Environment Agency officer on 5 January 2011 when they inspected the Buzzards Mouth Sewer and found a white substance being released into the watercourse from the surface water drain. Over the coming months this caused extensive fungal growth and was damaging to the natural environment. Through enquiries and drain tracing with Thames Water Utilities Ltd (TWUL) it became clear the pollutant was milk from Medina Dairy Ltd at Gallions Close.

Further investigation identified that staff were washing milk spillages into the drainage system part of which was connected directly into the surface water system and discharged into the Buzzards Mouth Sewer.

Since receiving advice, Medina Dairy Ltd has made certain changes to its working practices to prevent further pollution and have plans to introduce the changes nationwide. They are now using sealed containers to store damaged containers to reduce the amount of spilt milk on the site surface. The company has also diverted a large area of the yard drainage to foul drains to allow washings to be disposed of safely and have obtained a trade effluent consent from TWUL.

James Burton, Investigating Officer at the Environment Agency, said:

“This case is an important reminder that companies have a duty of care to ensure that any wastes, liquid or otherwise, are disposed of in a safe manner. In this instance businesses must ensure that they understand where their drains lead and they have spillage prevention measures in place. If a business wishes to discharge any liquids into the foul sewer it will require consent from the local sewerage Company provider or a permit from the Environment Agency should the discharge be to a watercourse.

“The Environment Agency is continually working hard to improve London's watercourses and prevent diffuse pollution from both industrial and domestic sources. This work has included areas of the river Lee around Olympic sites and will significantly help to meet national water quality targets. We hope the court’s decision today will highlight to other companies their responsibility to ensure safe waste drainage. Small prevention measures can make a huge difference to the environment.”