South Staffs Water has successfully prosecuted a company for unauthorised use of a standpipe, thereby illegally taking water from a hydrant.

Rugby-based J M Morris Plant Hire Ltd pleaded guilty to the offence which occurred in Wood End Lane, Fradley on 6 September 2024.

The company was ordered to pay a total of £5,130 in fines and legal costs by Dudley Magistrates Court.

Mark Jeffries, Lead Water Supplies Officer for South Staffs Water and Cambridge Water, said:

“It is illegal to connect to the water supply network without proper authorisation.

“Unauthorised connections to our network pose a serious risk to the quality of water we supply to our customers. This could result in contamination of the public water supply, reduction in pressure, disturbance or possibly a mains failure of our network.

“Our priority is to provide a safe and reliable water supply to our customers, and we take it very seriously when the actions of others impact our ability to do this. We are pleased that this prosecution has taken place and hope it discourages others from acting irresponsibly in the future.”

Companies wishing to access water from a hydrant can hire an authorised standpipe from South Staffs Water. Visit https://www.south-staffs-water.co.uk/developer/standpipes for more information. If you’re in our Cambridge Water region, visit https://www.cambridge-water.co.uk/developer/standpipes/

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