Lanes Group pleaded guilty to six offences at Redhill Magistrates Court on Tuesday 8 March and was fined a total of £5,120.
SESW had tried to work with Lanes Group; however the company had been found taking water without permission on more than one occasion and had received previous written warnings.
Lanes Group were caught, and photographed, on two separate occasions leading up to the prosecution. The first incident was on 18 September 2015 in Linkfield Lane, Redhill where a two-man crew were seen illegally using water from a hydrant to clear a blocked sewer. Four weeks later on 20 October another of their vehicles was found to be illegally connected to a hydrant in Warlingham.
In Sutton and East Surrey Water’s supply area water must only be taken using an authorised small bore standpipe which, for ease of identification, is coloured bright orange. These are provided by the company’s specialist provider Supply UK Water Services. More information can be found at waterplc.com/standpipes.
It is hoped that this successful prosecution will serve as a warning to others. SESW will continue to actively pursue and prosecute anyone who takes water from its mains illegally. Anyone who sees illegal use of the company’s hydrants should contact its Customer Services team on 01737 772000.