A COURT has issued a fine of almost half a million pounds after water that was “unfit for human consumption” was supplied to people in the North-East.

Northumbrian Water has now apologised to County Durham customers who drank water with an “unpleasant taste and odour” following the a prosecution in court.

Peterlee Magistrates’ Court issued the firm with £499,725 in fines and costs of £32,792.65 which were agreed out of court.

The offences arose in December 2016 when water with a taste and odour was supplied from South Moor Service Reservoir, in Burnhope, near Stanley, which serves 10,000 people.

It followed maintenance work on the reservoir and people said the water tasted like medicine, plastic, chemical or metallic.

Northumbrian Water pleaded guilty to the supply of water unfit for human consumption and for an offence arising from not following the manufacturer’s instruction for use of a product.

The charges were brought by the Drinking Water Inspectorate.

The organisation’s Chief Inspector Marcus Rink said: “This was an event that should not have happened.

“Corners were cut in carrying out the work and inadequate scrutiny did not identify this.

“Consumers experienced water with an unpleasant taste and odour which is likely to have been detected had adequate checks been carried out before the reservoir was put back into service.

“This prosecution acts as a reminder to companies of their ultimate responsibility for drinking water quality at all times. We are content that the court has recognised the seriousness of this event.”

Northumbrian Water has now apologised to customers.

The firm’s assets and assurance director Ceri Jones added: “We are very sorry for what has happened and would like to apologise to the people who were affected by this incident.

“It is important to stress that whilst a small number of customers did experience an unpleasant taste and odour with the water supplied, there was never a risk to health to anyone as a result of this incident.”