Company fined $1,000 for illegally taking water from King Township

YorkRegion.com
Dec. 19, 2016
Tim Kelly

A Queensville company was convicted and fined $1,000 for illegally taking water in King Township this past June. The fine was levied in a Newmarket court on Dec. 13. Dec. 19, 2016
King Connection
By Tim Kelly
A Queensville company has been convicted and fined $1,000 for water theft in King Township.

J Lipani and Son Sod Farms pleaded guilty in Newmarket court last week to illegally taking water from a King Township hydrant earlier in 2016.

King Township staff reportedly noticed someone hooked up to a hydrant in the Parkheights neighbourhood of Nobleton on June 25. After an investigation. it was determined that while the company did have a permit for water taking in King, it was not at that specific hydrant.

Fines upon conviction can range from $100 to $50,000. The company pleaded guilty in Newmarket court on Dec. 13 and was given a fine of $1,000.

"We take the issue of illegal hookups very seriously," said Andrew Drzewiecki, King Township's director of building, engineering and public works in a news release from the township.

The township said it's concerned illegal hookups can lead to potential water contamination, damage to fire hydrants and to the overall water system as well as costing the municipality lost revenue.

This is the second water theft conviction of 2016. Another company pleaded guilty in April to taking water from a hydrant in 2015.