Southern Water has pleaded guilty to environmental offences after a wastewater treatment works discharged excessive levels of suspended solids and iron into the River Test, which supplies the Island’s drinking water, following a series of equipment failures.
The water company admitted 2 charges at Medway Magistrates’ Court on 14th July, following a prosecution brought by the Environment Agency over pollution from Fullerton Wastewater Treatment Works near Stockbridge in March 2023.
The case centres on an incident discovered by Environment Agency officers during routine water quality monitoring in March 2023.
Inspectors detected dark particles in the River Test and traced the pollution almost 4 miles upstream to Fullerton Wastewater Treatment Works, where a dark plume was entering the chalk stream.
Investigators found that only 1 of the site’s 4 tanks used to remove sludge and scum from wastewater was operating correctly. Another had reportedly been awaiting repair for more than a year, while pumps feeding effluent to sand filtration beds were also suffering technical problems.
Sampling confirmed suspended solids in the discharge were more than 3 times the permitted limit, while iron concentrations – responsible for giving the pollution a red tinge – also exceeded the site’s environmental permit.
The Environment Agency said Southern Water failed to notify the regulator after becoming aware of the problems, despite identifying at least 2 missed opportunities to do so.
Simon Moody, of the Environment Agency, has said:
“Chalk streams like the River Test are precious, natural resources. But they are also fragile and this incident came to light thanks to the close eye we keep on their health.
“Southern Water’s safeguards which should have protected this chalk stream failed one by one. That’s unacceptable. Chalk streams should be gin clear. Thorough maintenance and tested process would have prevented this.”
Southern Water pleaded guilty to breaching the conditions of its environmental permit by discharging wastewater containing more than 50mg/l of suspended solids and more than 8,000 micrograms per litre of total iron.
The River Test is one of the world’s most important chalk streams and is home to genetically unique Atlantic salmon, which rely on clean, well-oxygenated water and are considered more vulnerable than other salmon populations.
Water quality testing carried out by the Environment Agency 11 days after the incident showed conditions had significantly improved.
The prosecution comes amid continued scrutiny of Southern Water’s environmental performance. Recently in West Wight, Freshwater Parish Council unanimously voted no confidence in Southern Water as the company continues to pollute vital water sources across the Island.
The River Test is a vital resource for residents on the Isle of Wight, supplying Hampshire and the Isle of Wight with the majority of their drinking water.
As previously reported by Island Echo, the Environment Agency described the company’s overall environmental performance as “unacceptable”, with inspectors carrying out more than 730 inspections of Southern Water assets over the past year. Just 68% were found to comply with their environmental permits, resulting in more than 400 improvement actions being issued by the regulator.
The Environment Agency says it completed its target of 10,000 inspections of water company assets this year as part of its increased focus on environmental compliance.
A Southern Water spokesperson said:
“The incident at Fullerton wastewater treatment works in 2023 happened during a period of extreme rainfall and resulted in an asset failure. This should not have occurred and fell below the standards we set for ourselves, and that our customers expect.
“We have pleaded guilty at the first opportunity to the pollution that resulted and are cooperating fully with the legal process. As this remains an ongoing court matter, it would be inappropriate to comment further.”
Sentencing for Southern Water will be heard at a later date.
I knew something was up with the drinking tap water. The last few weeks it’s tasted really metallic, I thought it was my taste buds. Now I’m not so sure. Will be avoiding tap water for the foreseeable future. Shame on southern water
Maybe that’s why they have placed a hose pipe ban, the water isn’t fit for watering the plants either!
After re-reading the article I noticed it says 2023. But can a tiger really change its stripes. I’m not a conspiracy theorist but I do believe something is going on with our water. The thing is, if there is something going on with it, why would they tell us? They won’t because it will cause fear and panic. Has anybody else noticed their tap water tastes really metallic lately?
It does make me wonder.
This was in 2023.
I haven’t been drinking tap water for years
I don’t trust what the numpties are putting in our
tap water.
I spend about £10 a week on bottled water, well worth it.
The tap water usually looks a strange colour, only good
for the garden.
So why are the government allowing them to screw every house hold,for charges for water returned to the sewer for treatment when it is not happening, and why are the government allowing them to dump untreated sewerage into our rivers and seas?
Do the Government care!
I imagine they drink decent water and claim for it on their expenses.
THEY WOULDN’T DRINK THIS P@SS
One way of topping up the levels eh!?!
I’m not paying anymore! Fi
Well, everyone should refuse to pay the part of the bill where it states the charges for water returned to the sewer
Absolutely unforgivable that’s our only chalk stream in the South & Southern water has polluted it; why didn’t the Council do a vote of no confidence yesterday ?