Southern Water fined £7m after illegally dumping sewage off Kent coast
Summary
Southern Water was fined over £7 million for illegally releasing untreated sewage into the sea off the Kent coast between 2019 and 2021. The company pleaded guilty to 13 offenses related to these illegal discharges and failures to promptly report them to authorities. The judge described Southern Water’s actions as a serious and repeated breach of environmental laws, causing harm to the environment and local communities.Key Facts
- Southern Water dumped untreated sewage off Kent’s coast between 2019 and 2021.
- The company admitted guilt for 13 offenses, including illegal discharges and late reporting to authorities.
- The total fine imposed was approximately £7.1 million.
- Some sewage discharges went unreported for more than 24 hours, violating environmental permit rules.
- Southern Water failed to maintain essential equipment, such as a standby pump at Margate’s station.
- The judge noted Southern Water had a long history of environmental violations dating back to 1999.
- Untreated sewage included solid waste and caused pollution and beach closures in Kent.
- Southern Water was previously fined £90 million for similar offenses in nearby regions.
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