Southern Water

Ex-Southern Water boss to face trial over allegedly manipulating sewage testing

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https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/jul/22/former-southern-water-employees-trial-alleged-cover-up-wastewater-testing

Swalecliffe wastewater treatment works, operated by Southern Water, in Whitstable, Kent. Photograph: Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images

Former CEO Matthew Wright and three other ex-employees named in criminal proceedings by Environment Agency

The former chief executive of Southern Water is being prosecuted for conspiracy to defraud along with three other former employees, over allegations they manipulated sewage wastewater testing results to avoid tens of millions of pounds in fines.

Matthew Wright is the first water industry boss to face a criminal charge over sewage discharges. He and three others are charged with conspiracy to defraud the Environment Agency and ​the water regulator, Ofwat, between 2012 and 2017 by ⁠creating artificial “no-flow” ​events ​at wastewater treatment ​works to ​influence ‌compliance checks.

The case focuses on operator self-monitoring, which was introduced to cut regulatory costs in 2009. The other former employees are Philip Barker, Clive Massey and Mark Gregory.

Operator self-monitoring allows water companies to monitor and test discharges from their wastewater treatment works, rather than the testing being carried out by an independent regulator.

Strict rules govern how samples must be taken to ensure their independence and accuracy. It is an offence if there is evidence that flows or data have been deliberately manipulated to avoid compliance checks.

Southern Water, which has more than 4 million customers, is also being charged with breaching environmental permits linked to the same conduct. Three further individuals are also being charged linked to failure to comply with environmental permits.

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Article continues at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/jul/22/former-southern-water-employees-trial-alleged-cover-up-wastewater-testing

April 2023 Surfers Against Sewage and Extinction Rebellion protests in St Agnes, Perranporth, Truro and Charlestown which unveiled spoof Blue Plaques to the MPs and Conservative Government who allowed raw sewage to be dumped in the sea (Image: Surfers Against Sewage)
April 2023 Surfers Against Sewage and Extinction Rebellion protests in St Agnes, Perranporth, Truro and Charlestown which unveiled spoof Blue Plaques to the MPs and Conservative Government who allowed raw sewage to be dumped in the sea (Image: Surfers Against Sewage)
Continue ReadingEx-Southern Water boss to face trial over allegedly manipulating sewage testing

Southern Water sparks fury with ‘absolutely disgusting’ sewage dumping plans

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/southern-water-sparks-fury-absolutely-disgusting-sewage-dumping-plans

 A general view of Silver Sands Beach, Isle of Wight

SOUTHERN WATER has sparked fury with “absolutely disgusting” plans to dump sewage into a major Isle of Wight tourist hotspot, which is home to rare seagrass habitats and seahorses.

The utility firm announced it will add a 22-metre extension to an old sewage pipe to release untreated waste into shallow lagoon waters at Silver Sands Beach on Bembridge Point during heavy rainfall several times a year. 

Located near Bembridge Harbour on the island’s east coast, the area is regularly visited by holidaymakers and water users and is home to an array of habitats and species, including rare offshore seagrass meadows, seahorses, Mediterranean gulls and herrings.

Local residents and campaigners have hit out over the plan’s potential harm to marine ecosystems, the negative impact on local tourist businesses, and public health risks from diseases such as E.coli and enterococci.

Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) chief executive Giles Bristow said: “People are rightly furious. 

“Southern Water wants communities to accept more sewage pollution on their beaches while its CEO Lawrence Gosden took home £1.4 million last year — double his previous pay packet.”

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Article continues at https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/southern-water-sparks-fury-absolutely-disgusting-sewage-dumping-plans

April 2023 Surfers Against Sewage and Extinction Rebellion protests in St Agnes, Perranporth, Truro and Charlestown which unveiled spoof Blue Plaques to the MPs and Conservative Government who allowed raw sewage to be dumped in the sea (Image: Surfers Against Sewage)
April 2023 Surfers Against Sewage and Extinction Rebellion protests in St Agnes, Perranporth, Truro and Charlestown which unveiled spoof Blue Plaques to the MPs and Conservative Government who allowed raw sewage to be dumped in the sea (Image: Surfers Against Sewage)

Continue ReadingSouthern Water sparks fury with ‘absolutely disgusting’ sewage dumping plans

New data exposes ‘the bankruptcy of Britain’s privatised water model’

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/new-data-exposes-bankruptcy-britains-privatised-water-model

 A tanker pumps out excess sewage from the Lightlands Lane sewage pumping station in Cookham, Berskhire which flooded after recent heavy rainfall, January 10, 2024

Water companies record worst-ever environmental performance in England as serious pollution incidents increase by 60% in 2024, Environment Agency finds

EMBATTLED water companies have recorded their worst-ever environmental performance in England, with serious pollution incidents up 60 per cent last year, data from the Environment Agency revealed yesterday.

Thames Water, Southern Water and Yorkshire Water were responsible for 81 per cent of all serious incidents, while Thames Water alone saw cases more than double.

Northumbrian and Wessex Water were the only companies with none.

The agency said only Severn Trent achieved the top four-star rating for 2024, while all nine water and sewage firms in England collectively earned just 19 out of a possible 36 stars — the lowest since the annual performance system began in 2011.

The regulator said the decline marked the end of over a decade of gradual improvement.

Serious pollution incidents causing significant environmental harm rose to 75, their highest since 2013.

The agency partly blamed extreme weather, which strained ageing infrastructure, but said “this is never an excuse.”

It also cited long-term underinvestment and poor maintenance.

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Article continues at https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/new-data-exposes-bankruptcy-britains-privatised-water-model

April 2023 Surfers Against Sewage and Extinction Rebellion protests in St Agnes, Perranporth, Truro and Charlestown which unveiled spoof Blue Plaques to the MPs and Conservative Government who allowed raw sewage to be dumped in the sea (Image: Surfers Against Sewage)
April 2023 Surfers Against Sewage and Extinction Rebellion protests in St Agnes, Perranporth, Truro and Charlestown which unveiled spoof Blue Plaques to the MPs and Conservative Government who allowed raw sewage to be dumped in the sea (Image: Surfers Against Sewage)

Continue ReadingNew data exposes ‘the bankruptcy of Britain’s privatised water model’

Five water firms to raise bills after appeal

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/five-water-firms-raise-bills-after-appeal

 A water bill from Southern Water

PLANS to allow water firms to increase bills yet again, despite decades of mismanagement and ongoing pollution, were condemned by campaigners today.

Five firms are set to raise charges by up to 5 per cent above the limits initially set by regulator Ofwat.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) confirmed that Anglian Water, Northumbrian Water, South East Water, Southern Water and Wessex Water have been permitted to hike their tariffs following an appeal.

The firms argued that Ofwat’s original decision left them unable to meet the regulatory requirements set out for them.

It follows a ruling in December, in which Southern had already been allowed to increase bills by 53 per cent over the next five years.

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Kirstin Baker, who chaired the independent group of experts appointed by the CMA to consider the price controls, said that the request for significant bill increases were “largely unjustified.”

River Action CEO James Wallace said: “Once again, water bill payers are forced to shoulder the cost of decades of failure.

“Millions of households in England face higher bills while rivers continue to suffer from mismanagement by privatised water companies.

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/five-water-firms-raise-bills-after-appeal

April 2023 Surfers Against Sewage and Extinction Rebellion protests in St Agnes, Perranporth, Truro and Charlestown which unveiled spoof Blue Plaques to the MPs and Conservative Government who allowed raw sewage to be dumped in the sea (Image: Surfers Against Sewage)
April 2023 Surfers Against Sewage and Extinction Rebellion protests in St Agnes, Perranporth, Truro and Charlestown which unveiled spoof Blue Plaques to the MPs and Conservative Government who allowed raw sewage to be dumped in the sea (Image: Surfers Against Sewage)
Continue ReadingFive water firms to raise bills after appeal

Pollution figures ‘the latest indicator of a water sector in total chaos’

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/pollution-figures-latest-indicator-water-sector-total-chaos

 A tanker pumps out excess sewage from the Lightlands Lane sewage pumping station in Cookham, Berskhire

CALLS to nationalise the water sector intensified yesterday after it emerged that serious pollution incidents in England jumped by 60 per cent last year.

The Environment Agency reported 75 major incidents that fell under categories one and two, which can severely harm the environment and human health.

Serious incidents doubled from 14 to 33 at crisis-hit Thames Water, the watchdog found.

Southern Water was responsible for 15 of the incidents and Yorkshire Water for 13.

Pollution incidents across all categories had increased by 29 per cent, with 2,801 recorded last year. 

Thames Water recorded the most incidents again at 523, followed by Anglian Water (482) and United Utilities (376).

The rise was attributed to underinvestment in new infrastructure, poor asset maintenance and reduced resilience due to the impacts of climate change. 

We Own It founder Cat Hobbs said the figures “are the latest indicator of a water sector in total chaos.

“The roots of this chaos extend all the way back to when Thatcher privatised water in the 1980s — effectively flogging the family silver for a quick buck.

“Since then, private shareholders have stuffed their pockets with gold, amassing £80 billion in payouts. 

“They’ve killed our rivers and let the infrastructure crumble, while bill-payers pick up the tab.

“Recent research shows that the cost of public ownership could be close to zero. This solution could also save the public £3-5bn a year, making publicly owned water a source of income for the Treasury.”

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Continue ReadingPollution figures ‘the latest indicator of a water sector in total chaos’