A WATER company has been fined and told to pay compensation for its "poor" work that led to Diglis residents' water supply becoming contaminated last summer.
People living in apartments and houses at Woodhouse Close in Diglis reported smelling sulphur in their water, which led to Severn Trent warning people not to drink from taps last July.
Bottles of water had to be handed out to residents, and stacked outside people's doors during the hot temperatures.
Pure Water Environmental Services Limited has now pleaded guilty to charges of the contamination of the drinking water supply to 83 residential apartments.
And the company has been ordered to pay £5776.94 - £2,000 costs and £3,776.94 in compensation - for breaches of the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999.
Lee Rawlings, Severn Trent’s senior water fittings technician, said: “In July 2018, we received reports from customers of a water quality issue affecting a development of flats.
"Customers were reporting a chemical taste and odour affecting their water.
"Upon investigation, we traced the problem to a water tank on the private water supply system for the development.
"Pure Water Environmental Services Limited had been carrying out works to re-seal the tank a few days before and the solvents used on the job had contaminated the water supply to the properties.
“Due to the water quality risk, we had to issue ‘Do Not Drink’ notices to 83 properties which remained in force for over a week while the issue was rectified and we sampled the supply to confirm that the water was fit for customers to drink.
“We treat all water quality matters very seriously and we hope this case goes to show just how important it is for companies and individuals who install, repair and maintain plumbing systems that they have a legal responsibility to comply with Water Fitting Regulations.
"This case is a prime example of poor workmanship which resulted in a significant contamination of a plumbing system.
"It’s absolutely vital that we take this sort of legal action to protect water supplies for our customers, as well as recovering costs that, otherwise, our customers would have to bear.”
The case was heard at Birmingham Magistrates Court earlier today.
READ MORE: Residents react after warning to not drink tap water in Diglis
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here