Privatised Firm Discharged Billions of Litres of Raw Sewage to Avoid Costs and Penalties
Southern Water has been hit with a record fine of £90 million for deliberately dumping billions of litres of raw sewage into protected coastal waters over several years. The water company discharged between 16 billion and 21 billion litres of sewage into some of the UK’s most fragile ecosystems in order to avoid the costs of proper wastewater treatment and to bypass penalties for non-compliance.
Mr. Justice Jeremy Johnson, who sentenced the firm, condemned its actions as a “shocking and wholesale disregard” for the environment, human health, and local businesses dependent on the coastal waters. He emphasized that the company’s actions were harmful to delicate ecosystems, fisheries, and the broader environment.
Southern Water, a privatised entity, has a long history of environmental violations, having been previously convicted of 168 offences. Despite these past penalties, the company continued its harmful practices, showing no sign of rectifying its behavior. The judge noted that there was no indication that Southern Water had taken the court’s past remarks or penalties seriously, as its offences persisted over time.
This case highlights ongoing concerns over the accountability of privatised utilities in the UK, especially in relation to their environmental responsibilities.
