South West Water handed one-star rating for environmental performance
OFWAT will be launching an investigation into South West Water
South West Water has been handed the lowest possible grade for its environmental performance.
West Dorset MP Chris Loder says the West Dorset water provider's downgrading is very disappointing.
Mr Loder said: “I have already made it clear during the summit I held with them, in no uncertain terms, that South West Water needed to properly address the serious concerns about water quality within its remit. That it has come to this after so many repeated warnings is very disappointing. I also made similar representations to the Environment Agency.”
It follows news in June this year that the Government’s water company regulator OFWAT will be launching an investigation into South West Water because of concerns regarding their sewage treatment.
Mr Loder continued:
“I have voted through Parliament many new measures to better hold water companies to account over their environmental record through the Environment Act. These measures include introducing new obligations for companies to publish water quality and sewage spill data, as well as a legal duty to produce an action plan to tackle sewage discharges. Here we are seeing the resulting scrutiny manifest itself. But this should not have to happen for Lyme Regis and the surrounding area to have its concerns on water quality properly met. I shall be doing all I can to make sure this happens.”
A South West Water spokesperson said:
“We are disappointed to receive this assessment for 2021 and this is not where we want to be. The investments and changes we are already making across our network are delivering real results, including a one-third reduction in pollution incidents last year to the lowest number in 10 years.
"We are committed to bringing this down further year on year by strengthening our round-the-clock response, increasing resourcing levels by 25%, and investing £330 million over the next three years in our wastewater network. However, we know there is significant progress still to make and remain committed to becoming a four-star EPA-rated company by the end of 2024.”