Wessex Water is facing an £11 million enforcement package following regulator findings of repeated wastewater failures.
Ofwat, the water industry regulator, said the penalty comes after identifying that the company had not adequately operated, maintained, or upgraded its wastewater network. These shortcomings meant the system could not fully cope with sewage and wastewater flows, leading to avoidable spills from storm overflows.
The funding for the package will come from Wessex Water and its shareholders, with no cost passed on to customers or added to bills.
Lynn Parker, senior director for enforcement at Ofwat, commented:
“Our investigation has found that Wessex Water failed to effectively operate, maintain and upgrade its wastewater assets, which meant there were spills from storm overflows when there shouldn’t have been. To their credit, the company has been one of the more proactive in investigating and rectifying the problems identified. However, there remain breaches which must be accounted for and corrected.”
She added:
“We understand that the public wants to see transformative change. That is why we are prioritising this sector-wide investigation which has so far held five wastewater companies to account to the tune of £240m in enforcement redress, benefitting the local environment and the customers those companies serve.”
Since 2020, Wessex Water has invested over £150 million to upgrade storm overflows in its service area.
The company has outlined plans for 2025 to 2030 to tackle remaining compliance issues across its wastewater treatment works and wider network.
Despite ongoing improvements, Ofwat stressed that further measures are needed to ensure the company meets all regulatory standards. The regulator will continue close monitoring to make sure these actions are completed.
A public consultation has now opened, allowing customers and stakeholders to provide comments before Ofwat finalises its decision. Details of the consultation are available on the Ofwat website.
Wessex Water provides services across South West England, covering Bristol, most of Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire, and parts of Gloucestershire and Hampshire.
