Southern Water has secured convictions of a company illegally taking water from its network after an operation by the Network Connection Enforcement Team caught workers filling a tanker using an unauthorised standpipe.
This is the first time the company has prosecuted for this offence under the Water Industry Act.
Southern Water said the firm, FM Conway Ltd has a track record for such offences against water companies including convictions for using a Thames Water hydrant, and has previously unlawfully connected to Southern Water hydrants on a dozen occasions.
The company faced charges under the Water Industry Act, received a 24-month conditional discharge and was ordered to pay £1,000 in costs to Southern Water and a victim surcharge of £22.
Mark Saywell, Network Connections Manager at Southern Water commented:
“Companies are allowed to connect to hydrants to take water from our network only using our approved metered standpipes, only if they pay for what they take and only in accordance with conditions, such as only connecting to authorised designated hydrants and where required at certain off peak times.”
“We repeatedly engaged with FM Conway but they continued to take water without following the correct process. This is not only extremely disappointing but it can – and on at least one occasion did – affect the quality of water our customers receive.”
After FM Conway workers were caught taking water on several occasions the company provided its workers with a mobile phone ‘app’ to use before attempting any connection.
However, a Southern Water Network Investigator saw an FM Conway tanker connecting to a standpipe which was the wrong colour making it clear this was equipment belonging to South East Water.
After taking photographs for evidence he challenged the Conway employee and was told “We’ve got an app, but I can’t always be bothered to use it.”
“Legal action is always a last resort but those who take water without permission should know we can and will seek justice,” Mark Saywell said.
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