06 December 2006
UNITED UTILITIES PLEADS
GUILTY TO CHARGE OF SUPPLYING WATER UNFIT FOR HUMAN
CONSUMPTION
United Utilities PLC pleaded guilty on Wednesday 6th December 2006 to supplying water unfit for human consumption at St Helens Magistrate’s Court.
The incident involved the supply of discoloured water to consumers in Cheshire and Merseyside in May 2004.
The charges were brought under Section 70 of the Water Industry Act 1991 .
In response to the verdict, Professor Jeni Colbourne, Chief Inspector of Drinking Water, said:
“ The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) will investigate and consider prosecution in all cases where consumers receive water which they regard as unfit
for consumption. I am satisfied with the outcome of the hearing. This demonstrates our firm commitment to consumers and to the safety
and acceptability of tap water.”
The Company was fined £ 5,000 on each of seven specimen counts
(total £35,000) and ordered to pay £ 11,345 toward prosecution costs.
The Inspectorate will make the results of its investigation publicly available in due course.
Notes for
Editors
- Section 70 of the Water Industry Act 1991 makes it criminal offence for a water company
to supply water which is unfit for human consumption. DWI investigates all drinking water quality incidents and since the Water Act 2003
can take forward prosecutions in the name of the Chief Inspector of Drinking Water. Prosecutions are taken forward where there is reliable
evidence that water unfit for human consumption was supplied, where the company does not have a defence that it took all reasonable steps
and exercised all due diligence, and when such a prosecution is regarded as being in the public interest.
- The prosecution follows an investigation by DWI of an incident involving the supply of discoloured water to
consumers in Cheshire and Merseyside in May 2004. The incident was significant and widespread, potentially affecting water supplies to over 670,000 consumers.
United Utilities received over 30,000 calls from customers during the incident. United Utilities increased the flow at their Huntington water treatment works to
supplement supplies to Manchester. The operation of the pumps caused change in velocity of the flow and resulted in the supply of water which was discoloured.
This is not the first occasion that consumers in this area have experienced discoloured water. A number of consumers found the appearance of the water so
unpleasant that they rejected it for drinking and food preparation purposes.
- The Drinking Water Inspectorate was set
up in January 1990. Its main task is to check that water companies in
England and Wales supply wholesome drinking water and in doing so comply
with the requirements of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations
2000 (England) and Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2001(Wales)
.
ISSUED ON BEHALF OF DWI BY GNN.
MEDIA ENQUIRIES:
Jeff Garner - GNN North West - 6 December up to 18:00 (0161 952 4502)
Sue Pennison - Drinking Water Inspectorate after 18:00 on 6 December (01428 751504)
Barbara Phillips - GNN North West - 7 December (0161 952 4513)
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