United Utilities has pleaded guilty to the supply of water unfit for human consumption following a cryptosporidium outbreak at its Franklaw Water Treatment Works near Preston in 2015 which left around 300,000 householders without tap water for more than three weeks.
The District Judge at Preston Magistrates Court has referred the case which was brought by the Drinking Water Inspectorate to the Crown Court for sentencing at a future date.
The contamination cost United Utilities around £25 million in total in compensation and costs.
A statement issued by the water company following the hearing said:
“United Utilities has pleaded guilty to one single charge of providing water that was unfit for human consumption between 30 July 2015 and 18 August 2015, from our Franklaw Water Treatment Works, Preston. The charge was brought by the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) under the Water Industry Act 1991.
“We have taken a full and open role with the DWI during its investigation, and complied with all its requests for information. A full programme of remedial and repair work has already been implemented to safeguard future supplies.
“We will not be making any further comment until after sentencing, later this year.”
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