A machinery rental firm has accumulated over £20,000 in fines over the past six years for illicitly drawing water from public pipes, Thames Water has reported.
JM Clark Ltd, which operates road sweeping equipment, unlawfully installed standpipes across Berkshire, Oxfordshire, and London between 2018 and 2023. Thames Water pursued legal action against the company in 2019 and 2022, culminating in a conviction on July 5, 2024, at Oxford Magistrates’ Court.
The company was found guilty of 33 violations and has been ordered to pay a total of £20,040 in fines along with £9,320 in legal costs, Thames Water stated.
Despite an initial meeting in 2018 aimed at promoting compliance, JM Clark Ltd continued its illegal activities. After a 2022 court case, the company was given a three-month window to address its standpipe usage. However, it committed four additional violations during this period.
Thames Water emphasized that with increasing demands on water resources due to climate change and population growth, it is committed to enforcing regulations against unauthorized connections to its clean water supply.
JM Clark Ltd, headquartered in Belvedere, London, has been contacted for a response.