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A construction and maintenance firm has been prosecuted for illegally filling a tanker using a water hydrant.
Southern Water secured took FM Conway to court after watching workers fill up from its network on two occasions, including one instance in Northfleet in March.
The water provider says its the first time they have prosecuted anyone for the offence under the Water Industry Act, but that FM Conway Ltd has a track record for such offences against water companies.
Magistrates in Crawley heard yesterday how on March 5 a representative of FM Conway Limited was observed - by a Southern Water representative - connecting a South East Water standpipe to a washout hydrant located at Springhead Enterprise Park, Springhead Road, Northfleet, Gravesend.
This connection was unauthorised in two ways - firstly it was a South East Water Standpipe being used in a Southern Water area, and secondly it was connected during peak times, when this washout hydrant only allowed connections during specific off-peak hours.
On a previous occasion in September last year a representative from the company was observed having connected a Thames Water standpipe to a fire hydrant at Livingstone Road, Crawley, without the relevant authorisation from Southern Water.
The company pleaded guilty to the charges and received a 24-month Conditional Discharge, as well as being ordered to pay £1,000 in costs to Southern Water and a victim surcharge of £22.
Mark Saywell, network connections manager at Southern Water, said: "Companies are allowed to connect to hydrants to take water from our network only using our approved metered standpipes, only if they pay for what they take and only in accordance with conditions, such as only connecting to authorised designated hydrants and where required at certain off peak times.
"We repeatedly engaged with FM Conway but they continued to take water without following the correct process. This is not only extremely disappointing but it can - and on at least one occasion did - affect the quality of water our customers receive.
"Legal action is always a last resort but those who take water without permission should know we can and will seek justice,"
After FM Conway workers were caught taking water on several occasions the company provided its workers with a mobile phone ‘app' to use before attempting any connection.
But a sharp eyed Southern Water Network Investigator saw an FM Conway tanker connecting to a standpipe which was the wrong colour making it clear this was equipment belonging to South East Water.
After taking photographs for evidence he challenged the Conway employee and was told "We've got an app, but I can't always be bothered to use it."
