Southern Water has been given a stern warning to urgently improve by the Environment Agency (EA) after a surge in pollution incidents dragged down its Environmental Performance Assessment (EPA) rating.
Key Takeaways
- Southern Water scored a low 2-star rating for 2024, continuing a dip in performance and falling short of its 2017 rating.
- The company was responsible for 269 pollution incidents, up 35 from the previous year, including 15 serious cases.
- This poor performance contributes to the sector’s overall worst result since the EPA began in 2011, with all English water companies collectively achieving only 19 out of a possible 36 stars.
- Serious pollution incidents across the sector soared by 60% compared to 2023. Southern Water, Thames Water, and Yorkshire Water accounted for 81% of these serious incidents.
EA Demands Immediate Action
The Environment Agency is demanding a “fundamental shift in culture and behaviour” from the water sector.
- EA Chair Alan Lovell called the poor results a “clear and urgent signal for change,” demanding “bold leadership” and a “relentless focus on delivery” from companies.
- Dawn Theaker, EA Solent and South Downs water industry regulation manager, stated Southern Water “needs to get a grip on the concerning number of pollutions.”
- The EA is ramping up its oversight, with a goal to double the number of site inspections by April 2026. The agency has also committed to hiring 500 additional staff to bolster regulation and enforcement.
The decline in performance is attributed to factors including poor maintenance, underinvestment, and challenging weather, though increased monitoring is also providing a clearer picture of the issues.