Thames Water is continuing to crack down on illegal network connections - the UK’s largest water company has secured 23 convictions in the first five months of 2026 against companies and individuals who have illegally connected to its network.
A street sweeping company has been fined for the second time in 18 months after illegally tapping in to Thames Water hydrants in Reading and Chinnor.
SES Water has successfully prosecuted Lanes for Drains Limited for illegally taking water from a fire hydrant through the unauthorised use of a standpipe, pursuant to Section 174 of the Water Industry Act 1991.
Thames Water is ramping up the pressure on those who illegally tap into supplies and steal water after four separate offenders were heavily fined in court.
Severn Trent has successfully prosecuted a company for illegal hydrant use in Warwickshire.
James Sumsion, CEO of predictive water intelligence specialists Kohtari, says the water sector needs to take a giant leap forward, so that it can anticipate and act upon water quality issues - rather than merely react.
Ray Moulds, Sales Director at Flood Control International, takes a look at how automated sliding floodgates are supporting secondary containment at water and sewerage company sites.
With the UK government demanding a 50% reduction in storm overflow spills by 2029, the era of reactive management is over. Speaking in the House of Commons on 21 July 2025, then environment secretary Steve Reed said, “This Government will cut water companies’ sewage pollution in half by the end of the decade.”
ERG, the leading supplier of odour control systems and industrial gas cleaning & thermal systems, has been awarded the coveted King’s Award for Enterprise.