Following on from the last time this topic was posted, I said that I had contacted Thames water and was told I had to fill out a Trade Effluent form and pay £70 to have it processed. I aslo was given a copy of a letter by Hydramaster from South west water, which states that as the discharge would be 20 gallons per job they were not interested and had no objection to the disharge into a FOUL drain.
Well I ignored the form hoping it would go away, and recieved a reminder to fill it out.
So I rang them and recieved the following response:-
They used to send letters out similar to the S.W water one UNTIL the law changed last year. Now ALL discharges into the drainage system requires permission and payment of a yearly fee of £ 77 (they would credit my £70). This includes any persons/companies that discharge any amount, Cleaners, wheelie bin cleaners, carpet cleaners etc.
I asked why they dont actively enforce this, and was told its due to lack of resources, but that anyone discharging without a licence is breaking the law, and if reported that the fine would be more than £ 77.
I asked what would happen if I continued to ignore sending the form back, and was told that 2 more letters would be sent and that again due to limited resources the file would be closed.
This gives me a dilemma, should I do the right thing, go legal and pay the £ 77 every year, and be probably the only CC in Berkshire that does or risk ignoring it.
Its bin day tommorrow, so will ask the Wheelie cleaners if they pay it, and then make my decision.
