THAMES Water Utilities Limited was been fined £15,000 after it admitted polluting a river near Alton with sewage.
The Environment Agency brought the prosecution after discovering sewage pouring out of a manhole cover into the Holybourne Stream and thence into the River Wey.
Aldershot Magistrates Court heard on Tuesday that there had been problems with sewer discharges from Holybourne pumping station during last winter.
The Environment Agency had sent two officers to an incident on January 16 after reports that sewage was overflowing from a manhole cover at the pumping station in Upper Neatham Mill Lane. Furthermore, the seepage was affecting the adjacent public footpath.
The environment protection officers found the leak was being caused by a blockage in the pumping station.
A warning letter was sent to Thames Water stating that more frequent maintenance was needed and that the company would be prosecuted if any further overflows happened.
On March 9 this year, discharges were again found spewing from the manhole cover near the footpath and also from another manhole cover inside the pumping station.
Thames Water pleaded guilty to one charge of polluting Holybourne Stream and the River Wey with sewage effluent.
Environment protection officer, Tessa Vandenberghe said: "This was something that Thames Water Utilities had been aware of for a number of years and, as such, the incident last winter was completely avoidable.
"It caused an extremely unpleasant mess across the riverbank, and led to a great loss of amenity for anyone wishing to walk along that part of the river."
The company was fined £15,000 and ordered to pay £1,220 in court costs.
The news has been greeted with relief by local town councillor and Holybourne resident, Peter Whitmarsh.
"This is not the first time Thames Water has been responsible for polluting the river at Holybourne.
"Previously they have got away with it claiming leave to pollute in extenuating circumstances, such as flooding.
"I am glad that at long last we have seen some action taken and they have been made to pay," he said.
p Members of the public are being advised that they can report suspected pollution incidents to the Environment Agency on the 24-hour emergency hotline 0800 80 70 60