McFadden Utilities and Amara Land Ltd have been prosecuted by Thames Water and ordered to pay almost £32,000 in fines and costs

Water connection (credit Rose Galloway Green via Unsplash) — Photo by Rose Galloway Green on Unsplash

Two companies have been ordered to pay a combined £31,888 for installing illegal water connections – including two in Enfield borough.

McFadden Utilities and Amara Land Limited have been charged and convicted of 24 offences of causing illegal connections to the Thames Water’s clean water supply network at residential developments in Southgate, Oakwood and Hendon.

Both companies were prosecuted on grounds of carrying out work “negligently” and of using “incorrect measurements” of recorded water use across two developments in London since 2023.

Thames Water’s illegal connection team uncovered that McFadden, without consent, had installed connections to the water network in a manner “below acceptable industry standards” and caused an “erroneous measurement of water” to the clean water main at 133 Chase Road in Southgate (now known as Melrose Mews) and 63-65 Bramley Road in Oakwood (now known as Serenity Close).

Further, Amara Land Limited also installed a connection in an “unacceptable manner” and caused an “erroneous measurement” of water at Serenity Close, as well as a housing development in Hendon, now known as Garrick Way.

Over the past decade Thames Water’s illegal connection team have been referred over 10,000 illegal connection allegations, many of which have been prosecuted through the court system, resulting in Thames Water being awarded £365,000 in costs from offending companies.

Claire Rumens, Thames Water’s illegal connections manager, said: “Our work to find and stop illegal connections helps us to uncover offences, save millions of litres in water and uphold our statutory obligation to protect, control and maintain our clean water network.

“As we ask our customers to use water wisely and have engineers working around the clock to find and fix leaks, we are also doing our part to stop illegal connections to our water supply. We will always look to work with individuals and companies to educate and reduce the risk of re-offending.”

Thames Water has the right to prosecute all offences but may offer a one-off retrospective charge for a non-aggravated standpipe first offence.

To report an illegal connection or unauthorised standpipe connection:
Call 0800 009 3921
Email [email protected]

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