Southern Water hit with another multi-million-pound fine over sewage discharge in Kent

Southern Water has received another fine just two months after being told to pay £7m over illegal sewage dumping.

It's been ordered to pay £2.4m over incidents between 2019 and 2021 around Faversham and Whitstable, Kent.

Untreated sewage entered Swalecliffe Brook in Whitstable from a wastewater pumping station in August 2021.

Later that month, more illegal dumping forced the council to warn against swimming at Tankerton and Herne Bay beaches.

The water near Whitstable Harbour - a designated shellfishery - was also affected, according to the Environment Agency (EA).

Other incidents include diesel from a generator at a treatment plant leaking into Swalecliffe Brook and the sea in July 2019, prompting another no-swim warning.

Untreated sewage was also dumped into Faversham Creek over three days in March 2020 after pumps broke at another treatment plant.

Southern Water's latest fine was imposed at Bromley Magistrates' Court on Monday after the company previously admitted five charges.

In July, it was also fined more than £7m over discharges from Margate and Broadstairs pumping stations between 2019 and 2021.

The EA's environment manager for Kent, Lindsay Faulkner, said the disruption could have been avoided "if Southern Water managed operations better".

"They didn't have the checks in place to deal with problems. Water companies must learn to identify and fix problems before the environment pays the price," said Ms Faulkner.

A Southern Water spokesman apologised and said the incidents happened during "extremely heavy rainfall which overwhelmed our network".

He said the firm had taken "significant" action, including increasing stormwater storage capacity and spending £35m in and around Swalecliffe since 2020.

"We've a lot more still to do and will continue to invest heavily in improving these sites," the spokesman added.

"We remain committed to working with regulators and partners to improve river and coastal water quality, and rebuilding trust with our customers and stakeholders across Kent."

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The EA said the company will also be back in court in December over pollution incidents in Herne Bay, Canterbury and Andover.

Last year, the Environment Agency gave English water companies their lowest environmental rating since records began.

It said the number of serious incidents in which "significant" environmental harm was caused had increased by 60%.

Thames Water - the country's biggest supplier - Southern Water and Yorkshire Water were responsible for 81% of all incidents.

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