Section 44 – Non-compliance offence
79.This section makes it an offence for a person who is (or ought to be) aware of a water shortage order to fail, without reasonable excuse, to comply with a water saving measure or a restriction or prohibition on the abstraction of water imposed the order.
80.On summary conviction, the maximum fine for this offence is the statutory maximum (currently £10,000) whereas, on conviction on indictment, it is an unlimited fine.