Wessex Water fined for 2021 drinking water offence

Wessex Water was fined £280,000 and agreed out-of-court costs of over £21,000 last week at Swindon Magistrates Court, for supplying water unfit for human consumption.

During a three-week period from the end of March 2021, consumers in the Amesbury area of Wiltshire complained of an unacceptable taste to their tap water which made the water undrinkable.

The DWI said the objectionable taste was due to the company failing to undertake the required checks on the carbon filter which, if completed, would have identified the presence of iodinated organic compounds leaving the treatment works.

Wessex pleaded guilty to the offence.