A CARPET manufacturer has been fined more than £30,000 for polluting a river in the Gwent valleys after it turned the water white.

Abingdon Flooring Limited admitted contaminating the River Ebbw between Crumlin and Abercarn in November 2016.

The firm, which employs 400 people and has a site at Pen Y Fan Industrial Estate, Croespenmaen, pleaded guilty to an offence under Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations at Newport Magistrates’ Court.

The company admitted that, on or before November 24, 2016, it caused a water discharge activity, namely the discharge or entry of any poisonous, noxious or polluting matter, namely blenders from a carpet backing unit, to an inland freshwater, other than under and to the extent authorised by an environmental permit.

Outside the court, a Natural Resources Wales spokesperson said: “In November 2016, NRW was contacted by various members of the public to alert us to a water pollution incident, entering the River Ebbw at Crumlin.

“Polluting matter was observed entering this body of water which caused the river to change colour, to white and which had a visual impact of approximately 3km downstream.

“NRW officers were able to respond swiftly to investigate the pollution incident and with assistance from Dwr Cymru Welsh Water, traced the source to a company called Abingdon Flooring Ltd.

“Staff on site at Abingdon Flooring Ltd co-operated with NRW officers and it was quickly established that there was a blockage on the foul line, which had caused a spill of trade effluent into the surface water line and consequently into the River Ebbw.”

Susan Fitzpatrick, the team leader of the Rhymney & Ebbw Natural Resources Management team added: “We have fantastic rivers in Wales and its part of our job to protect them and the wildlife that lives there from pollution.

“We received a number of reports from a member of the public about white coloured water, like milk or emulsion paint, going into the River Ebbw between Crumlin and Abercarn.

“Our team investigated and traced the source to stop the pollution to minimise the damage.

“It’s important that any company has the right controls in place, and a procedure to manage their waste, to prevent pollution incidents like this from happening.

“We urge anyone who sees any type of pollution to water, to contact us immediately on our incident line: 03000 65 3000.”

It was said it mitigation that Abingdon Flooring had pleaded guilty and this was taken into account when magistrates imposed their sentence.

The firm was fined £33,000, ordered to pay costs of £10,932 and a victim surcharge of £120.