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Water pollution (see also: Procedure) - R v Yorkshire Water (20 March 1998) Magistrates' Court

United Kingdom
15/07/1998
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Yorkshire Water were found guilty of supplying water unfit for human consumption contrary to Section 70 of the Water Industry Act 1991 after residents of four villages near Boroughbridge found their water running black. One of the two boreholes used to abstract water for these villages had been closed for tests and so there was less water in the storage tower than usual. When the water from the operating borehole became turbid with suspended sediment the treatment plant was shut down. As there was insufficient water in the water tower to flush the system clean, dirty water was supplied to these villages without warning. The water was not a threat to health but Yorkshire Water were fined £4,000 for each of the three charges. (ENDS Report 279, p48)

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