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Repeat offender prosecuted for illegal connections to Thames Water’s network in East London

Thames Water van driving on bridge

Select Piling Ltd have been prosecuted for four offences of illegal connections to Thames Water's clean water network in Plaistow, East London, with total fine and costs totalling £13,567.65

  • The offender had previously been convicted for connecting an unlicensed standpipe to a Thames Water fire hydrant in June 2025 and was convicted or related offences in February 2026. 
  • Select Piling Ltd escalated their offending by excavating the highway and making an unauthorised connection directly onto the clean water main in the road. 
  • Thames Water continues to pursue action against any illegal connections to maintain its clean water network with four other convictions in August 2026. 

Select Piling Ltd have been charged and convicted of four offences related to illegal connections to the Thames Water's clean water supply network in August 2026, the business in a repeat offender.

The company was ordered to pay £13,567.65 for these offences, having already been prosecuted in February this year for a similar offence, when they connected an unlicensed and unauthorised standpipe to a fire hydrant in Builders Yard, Plaistow, London. 

Thames Water is committed and obligated to protect its clean water network and ensure water is used efficiently for the benefit of customers. 

With climate change and population growth placing increasing pressure on water resources, Thames Water is taking decisive action against those who illegally connect to its clean water mains. 

In 2026 so far, Thames Water's illegal connection team have secured 32 prosecutions, across 61 offences, with the total fines and legal costs currently standing at £137,338.22. 

Other convictions in August included: 

  • Graduate Landscapes connected an unauthorised standpipe in Wantage (Fine and Costs: £1,000) 
  • Thames Street Works Ltd connected an unauthorised standpipe in Bexley (Fine and Costs: £3,527) 
  • Excel Drainage Ltd connected an unauthorised standpipe in Vale of White Horse (Fine and Costs: £3,573) 
  • Advanced Drains Ltd connected an unauthorised standpipe in Tower Hamlets (Fine and Costs: £3,743)

Claire Rumens, Thames Water’s Illegal Connections manager, said: 

“Our work to identify and stop illegal connections is crucial to preventing the loss of millions of litres of water, and meeting our statutory duty to protect, manage and maintain the clean water network. 

“As we ask customers to use water responsibly and have engineers out every day finding and fixing leaks, we’re also taking firm action to prevent unlawful connections to our supply." 
 
Thames Water Utilities Ltd (TWUL) have the right to prosecute all offences but may offer a one-off retrospective charge for a non-aggravated standpipe first offence. Standpipes can be hired from Thames Water’s authorised service provider.