JM Clark Ltd, a machinery hire company, has been hit with fines exceeding £20,000 over the past six years for unauthorized water theft, Thames Water has reported. The company was found to have installed illegal standpipes in Berkshire, Oxfordshire, and London between 2018 and 2023.
Thames Water prosecuted JM Clark Ltd at Reading Magistrates’ Court in 2019 and 2022, and again at Oxford Magistrates’ Court on July 5, 2024. The company was convicted of 33 offenses and ordered to pay £20,040 in fines, in addition to £9,320 in costs.
The water utility provider noted that it initially met with JM Clark in 2018 to advise the company on adhering to water usage regulations. Despite this, the contractor was found to have committed four additional offenses during a three-month review period following a 2022 prosecution.
Thames Water emphasized its commitment to combating illegal water connections amid growing pressures on water resources due to climate change and population increases. The firm has stated, “Thames Water is taking firm action against those who unlawfully tap into its clean water mains.”
JM Clark Ltd, headquartered in Belvedere, London, has been contacted for a response.