Overview

• Anglian Water pleaded guilty to five offences under the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016 at Northampton Crown Court.
• The Drinking Water Inspectorate found that unapproved plastic coatings used in water tanks between June and December 2021 degraded into flakes, contaminating the supply.
• Around 1.3 million customers were affected by the contamination, though experts assessed the risk to public health as low.
• Anglian Water has since rectified all issues, including removing non-compliant materials and improving management practices.
• The case has intensified calls for water-sector reforms, with the government advancing stricter regulations and penalties under the new Water Act.