Response to Kent court appearance for pollution incidents 2019-2021
Southern Water appeared at Medway Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 22 April 2025, following an Environment Agency investigation into pollution incidents which took place between 2019 and 2021.
In court, we pleaded guilty to charges relating to a number of unpermitted discharges from Margate, Broadstairs and Weatherlees Hill Wastewater Pumping Stations during this time period – and the case was adjourned for sentencing at a later date.
CEO Lawrence Gosden said:
“We’re sorry that in the past the company failed its customers at these sites in North Kent, and we acknowledge the concern they rightly feel.
“With new leadership, and a Turnaround Plan launched in 2021 we’ve set out to put these kind of incidents firmly behind us.
"Backed by new shareholders, we’re making the improvements needed to transform the company. The Turnaround Plan has already delivered a large reduction in total pollution events, and we’re investing heavily to upgrade our infrastructure.
“In Thanet alone, since 2020 we’ve invested more than £28 million in our wastewater sites - including a significant pump replacement project for Margate and Broadstairs, repairs to the major sewer between Margate and Weatherlees, and a huge Thanet-wide sewer upgrade scheme.
"We plan to spend a further £47 million over the next ten years in the area, which will include boosting the resilience of the local power supply, and improving pump capacity and wastewater processes at these critical sites."