Record '90m Fine For Southern Water Following EA Prosecution

• Published date: 15 July 2021
• Subject Matter: Environment, Energy and Natural Resources, Environmental Law, Water
• Law Firm: Walker Morris
• Author: Rachel Turnbull

Southern Water has been hit with the largest ever fine for environmental offences after pleading guilty to 51 charges relating to unauthorised sewage discharges between 2010 and 2015. The case is the largest criminal investigation ever undertaken by the Environment Agency and included 6,971 illegal discharges from 16 waste water treatment works and one storm overflow brought together in one prosecution. The offences were found to be caused by deliberate failings, causing Category 1 (major) harm to protected areas, conservation sites and oyster beds in rivers and coastal waters in Kent, Hampshire and Sussex.

Chair of the Environment Agency, Emma Howard Boyd said 'This sentence shows fines for environmental offences are starting to reach the same level as the highest fines for crimes in financial services and that is good. There is growing scrutiny of the environmental performance of companies all over the world, this sends an important message to global investors that England expects businesses to perform to the highest standards.'

This case highlights the...