Southern Water fined £7m after illegally dumping sewage off Kent coast
Southern Water has been fined over £7 million for illegally discharging untreated sewage into the sea off the Kent coast between 2019 and 2021. The court cited a history of criminal negligence and failure to maintain essential infrastructure as key factors in the sentencing.
Why it matters
This highlights ongoing environmental accountability issues regarding water utility companies and the impact of pollution on public coastal areas.
A sign at Margate informing people not to use the beach after a pollution incident in 2021. Photograph: Environment Agency/PA A sign at Margate informing people not to use the beach after a pollution incident in 2021. Photograph: Environment Agency/PA Pollution Southern Water fined £7m after illegally dumping sewage off Kent coast Firm pleaded guilty to 13 offences over discharges at Margate and Broadstairs wastewater pumping stations
Prefer the Guardian on Google Southern Water has been fined more than £7m after dumping sewage illegally off the Kent coast between 2019 and 2021.
The company, described by the judge as having a “record of criminality” which is “an exceptionally serious aggravating factor”, pleaded guilty to 13 offences at Medway magistrates court last April over sewage discharges at Margate and Broadstairs wastewater pumping stations between 2019 and 2021.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in