A HOUSEBUILDER fined over illegal water connections says they were isolated incidents caused by contractors not following correct procedures.
Thames Water says it is clamping down on the practice, after Bellway Homes was ordered to pay £10,115 for creating unauthorised and unlicenced standpipes to the clean water main, on two separate occasions at developments in Taplow and Greenhithe last year/
The water company, based in Reading, says as part of its efforts to use water effectively, the company is obligated to protect its clean water supply for customers, and the fine is just a small fraction of the £450,000 that companies have been ordered to pay Thames Water in the last seven years, as part of legal costs from contractors, landowners and other third parties.
It says that companies that illegally connect to clean water mains, can compromise the integrity of the clean water network and do not pay for their connections, or the water consumed.
Claire Rumens, Thames Water’s illegal connections manager, said: “Our work to find and stop illegal connections helps us to uncover hundreds of offences and save millions of litres in water and uphold our statutory obligation to protect, control and maintain our clean water network.
“As we ask our customers to use water wisely and have engineers working around the clock to find and fix leaks, we are also doing our part to stop illegal connections to our water supply.
We will always look to work with individuals and companies to educate and reduce the risk of re-offending.
Thames Water Utilities Ltd (TWUL) says it reserves the right to prosecute all offences but may offer a one-off retrospective charge for a non-aggravated standpipe first offence, and standpipes can be hired.
Responding, Bellway Homes said the two incidents were undertaken by subcontractors onsite and against agreed processes.
A spokesperson said: “Bellway has been involved in two standpipe incidents a number of months apart on sites in different parts of the country. The incidents are completely unconnected and involved contractor operatives failing to follow our established site procedures.
“We take great pride in our environmental record and have tightened our procedures to prevent this happening again.
“Bellway Homes is committed to protecting the environment and building sustainable homes for the future.”
Thames Water said illegal connection or unauthorised standpipe connection can be reported by emailing: illegalconnections@thameswater.co.uk, or calling: 0800 009 3921.
