Southern Water Sewage

Southern Water have form in their questionable discharges of raw sewage into the seas and rivers in its area. The company was recently fined £90m for illegal discharges. Southern Water is now creating an environmental catastrophe in West Sussex's Chichester harbour (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/aug/16/southern-water-sewage-destroying-protected-chichester-harbour). Chichester harbour has some of the highest marine protection designations. Natural England have shown, however, that 80% of the protected waters are in an unfavourable or declining condition. This results from the sewage discharges. The privately-owned water companies are allowed to discharge sewage at times of very heavy rainfall. They have been able to self-report their 'essential' discharges. Discharges save water companies money. Unfeasibly, on almost 50% of the days in the investigated year, Southern Water were 'forced' to discharge sewage into Chichester harbour. Things are only likely to get worse, as substantial new housing is planned in this area. Provision for sewage treatment is already inadequate here. The UK's water companies have to be brought under control.