The Drinking Water Inspectorate Is bringing a prosecution against United Utilities for 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 case will initially be heard at Preston Magistrates Court on 30th June 2017 ahead of a full court hearing.
United Utilities has received a summons from the Inspectorate and will face three charges:
- supplying water unfit for human consumption
- failure to properly disinfect supplies
- failure to design and continuously operate an adequate treatment process
A statement issued by the company in response to the DWI summons said:
“United Utilities has taken a full and open role with DWI during their investigation and complied with all requests for information.”
“It would be inappropriate to comment further now until after the case has been concluded.”
At the time of the incident United Utilities pledged to compensate all households affected by the boil water notice which was lifted in stages with the final one lifted on 6 September 2015
The contamination cost United Utilities around £25 million in total in compensation and costs.
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