Southern Water has been fined £330,000 by Southampton Magistrates’ Court for a significant environmental breach that resulted in the death of 2,000 fish, highlighting ongoing concerns about water pollution and utility company accountability.
Southern Water has incurred a £330,000 fine following a significant environmental breach that resulted in the death of approximately 2,000 fish in Hampshire. The penalty was imposed by Southampton Magistrates’ Court due to a pollution incident in which untreated sewage spilled into Shawford Lake Stream, affecting the area for up to 20 hours. This incident, occurring in July 2019, was attributed to a pump failure at a Southern Water facility caused by a programming error, leading to untreated effluent contaminating the stream and nearby fields.
The Environment Agency, which pursued legal action against the water company, reported that ammonia levels in the stream surged to 25 times the legal limit, inflicting considerable harm on the local ecosystem. The pollution directly impacted the nearby YMCA Fairthorne Manor activity centre, resulting in the cancellation of over 1,000 sessions involving water activities due to the contamination.
Southern Water acknowledged the breach of environmental regulations and has embarked on measures to mitigate the impact, including compensating those affected and establishing a grant scheme for habitat improvement. Besides, the company committed to reviewing its pumping stations to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Criticism has been levelled at the regulatory environment governing water companies, with James Wallace, CEO of River Action UK, pointing out both the delay in bringing the case to court and the disparity in fines issued for similar offenses, highlighting a £3.3 million fine Thames Water faced in 2017.
The fine paid by Southern Water will be allocated to the Water Restoration Fund, aimed at supporting environmental restoration projects. The incident underscores ongoing concerns about water pollution and the accountability of utility companies in maintaining environmental standards.
