Prosecution and Caution Record

Cautions issued over last 5 years

(Full record of cautions from 1995 to present day)

Full record of cautions

Date of Event

Caution Date

Details

30 July 2021

9 January 2023

Southern Water was issued with a caution following the supply of water to consumers which was unfit for human consumption. The company subsequently introduced changes to their policy, procedures and training to prevent a recurrence.

28 January 2021

6 January 2023

Thames Water accepted a caution following an event where discoloured water was supplied to 135,045 consumers in Tooting and Merton, South London, following planned work on the water network. 

6 November 2018

21 December 2020

Severn Trent Water accepted a caution following an event where discoloured water with an unacceptable taste and odour was supplied to 13,150 consumers in Leicester, after a rehabilitated trunk main was returned to supply.

27 March 2020

15 December 2020

SES Water accepted a caution following the investigation of an event where water unfit for human consumption was supplied to a single property in Sutton, following the mis-connection of the consumers service pipe to a disused gas main

6 March 2019 and 11 July 2019

5 June 2020

South Staffs Water accepted a caution following a technical audit of Crumpwood water treatment works, which identified that the membrane filtration system in use was not being operated in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

11 December 2016

16 August 2018

United Utilities accepted a caution following the investigation of an event where inadequately disinfected water was supplied from Buckton Castle treatment works to 43,000 consumers in and around Ashton-under-Lyne and Stalybridge. Consumers were advised to boil their tap water before consumption for two and a half days.

12 October 2016

13 April 2018

South Staffs Water accepted a caution following the investigation of an event where discoloured water was supplied to 71,000 consumers in and around Walsall, West Midlands following planned work at Seedy Mill treatment works.

Prosecutions (court cases over last 5 years)

(* Full record of Prosecutions from 1995 to present day)

Date of Event

Date of court case

Company

Court

Event

Offence

Outcome

Costs

March 2021

30 May 2023

Wessex Water Services Limited

Swindon Magistrates’ Court

Newton Tony Taste and Odour

Section 70 of the Water Industry Act 1991 for the supply of water unfit for human consumption

 £280,000 and a victim surcharge of £190

£21,656.60

June 2018

13 Sep 2022

South West Water Ltd

Plymouth Magistrates’ Court

Bratton Fleming and Horedown Taste and Odour

Section 70 of the Water Industry Act 1991 for the supply of water unfit for human consumption

£233,333 and a victim surcharge of £170

£83,967.93

1 April – 31 May 2018

Guilty plea 5 April 2022

Sentencing 24 May 2022

Southern Water Services Ltd

Hove Crown Court

High Park Chlorate

Regulation 33(3)(a) – applying or introducing a substance or product into water in contravention of regulation 31(1)

£16,000 and a victim surcharge of £170

£49,401.95

16 Feb 2017 and 10 July 2017

10 June 2019

Thames Water Utilities Ltd

Stratford Magistrates’ Court

Coppermills Water treatment works

Regulation 33(1) – breach of regulation 26(1)(a) failure to disinfect water and breach of regulation 26(4) failure to design and continuously operate an adequate treatment process

Regulation 33(1) – breach of regulation 26(1)(b) failure to subject water to sufficient preliminary treatment to prepare it for disinfection before treatment

£80,000

£80,000

£79,839.68 and a victim’s surcharge of £120

17 Dec 2016

10 Jan 2019

Northumbrian Water Ltd

Peterlee Magistrates’ Court

South Moor service reservoir Taste and Odour

Section 70 supply of water unfit, and not following Instructions for Use – regulation 33(3)(b)

£499,725 and a victim surcharge of £170

£32,792.65

31 Jan – 12 Feb 2013

Guilty plea 27 July 2018

Sentencing 10 August 2018

Southern Water Services Ltd

Newport Crown Court

Cooks Castle Shanklin water supply reservoir

Section 70 supply of water unfit (discoloured and highly turbid) for human consumption

£65,000

£44,620.99

March – July 2015

Guilty plea 31 Jan 2018

Sentencing 5 June 2018

United Utilities Water Plc

Bolton Crown Court

Sweetloves works

Regulation 33 – breach of regulation 26(1) inadequate treatment and disinfection of water for two events from 31 March – 3 April 2015 and 19 July – 22 July 2015

£50,000 for first event

£150,000 for second event

£54,000

Aug – Sept 2015

Guilty plea 19 July 17

Sentencing 10 Oct 17

United Utilities Water Plc

Preston Crown Court

Franklaw works – detection of Cryptosporidium

Section 70 supply of water unfit for human consumption

£300,000

£150,000

Oct 2015

Guilty plea 14 August 17

Sentencing 25 August 17

Southern Water Services Ltd

Southampton Magistrates’ Court

Discolouration due to burst main

Section 70 supply of water unfit for human consumption and use of non-approved products (reg 33)

£400,000 for section 70 offence and £80,000 for reg 33 offence

£50,000

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