Unapproved Coatings in Anglian Water Pipes: Wider Troubles, Remedies, and Regulatory Action
Water utility company Anglian Water penalized with a remarkable £1.42 million due to shortcomings in delivering potable water.
In a shocking turn of events, Anglian Water, a water supply company serving eastern England from the Humber to the Thames Estuary, has been hit with a whopping £1.4m fine for using unapproved plastic-based materials to coat pipework submerged in drinking water tanks at four different locations. These errors affected about 1.3 million residents, according to the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI).
The pipes under scrutiny were installed between 2016 and 2019 and remained in use until 2021. The DWI’s probe revealed additional problems, including:
- Inefficient staff training, resulting in oversight lapses
- Inadequate review of the supply chain’s products
- Continued use of contaminated tanks even after the company discovered the issue
Anglian Water has since reported the failings to the DWI and made changes to their processes, having invested substantially to enhance their practices and sharing their learnings throughout the water sector. The DWI confirmed that all issues have been addressed. Despite the violation, Anglian Water notes that there was no evidence found of water contamination, a conclusion backed by independent experts’ reports.
Environment Secretary Steve Reed expressed his outrage, stating: “Contamination of drinking water is a disgrace of epic proportions, and this record fine sends out a loud and clear message that such negligence will not be tolerated."
Additional Reads:
- Welsh Water Fined £1.35m for Breaches
- Minister: Water System Failing
- Bosses Face Prison for Illegal Sewage Spills
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Anglian Water pleaded guilty at Northampton Crown Court, issuing a statement acknowledging their wrongdoings. The average bill for customers has climbed from £527 to £626 a year since April, amounting to a £99 increase, as reported by Water UK.
In the context of health and wellness, it's important to ensure that medical-conditions such as potential contamination resulting from the use of unapproved materials in water pipes are addressed promptly, like in the case of Anglian Water. To maintain proper science and safety standards, it's crucial for companies to review their supply chain products and provide adequate staff training.
