Darren Paffey MP has welcomed water and sewage regulator, Ofwat’s decision to fine Southern Water, who look after Southampton’s waste water, £31.9m. This fine will be reflected in customer’s bill in 2025-26, where bills will be cut. Total rebates are due to be calculated in December.

The fine comes after Ofwat’s annual performance review, where Ofwat assesses the performance of the 17 largest water and wastewater companies in England and Wales each year against key targets, for issues such as sewer flooding, supply interruptions and water leaks. Where if they are not met, Ofwat will restrict the amount of money they can take from customers.  Ofwat gave Southern Water’s performance its lowest category of “lagging”.

This comes after Southern Water dumped sewage into the River Itchen 237 times for 2,397 hours last year. Whereby research by a local environment group in Southampton found high levels of E-coli in the River Itchen last year.

Darren Paffey MP, made cleaning then River Itchen from Southern Water’s sewage dumping a key campaign pledge in July’s general election. Mr Paffey is now running a campaign, including a petition, to ‘stop the River Itchen sewage scandal’. He is also arranging meetings with Southern Water and a roundtable to include local campaign groups, to start the work of stopping sewage dumping in the River Itchen.

Ofwat’s decision comes as the new Labour Government is bringing in the special measures through the Water Bill. Some of these special measures include strengthening the regulators powers to ban the payment of bonuses to water bosses and bring criminal charges against persistent law breakers.

Commenting on the news, Darren Paffey, Member of Parliament for Southampton Itchen said:

“This significant fine against Southern Water is very welcome news for residents in Southern Water.

“It is unacceptable for Southern Water to be dumping sewage into the River Itchen, whilst expecting residents to be paying more, as they plan to take huge bonuses.

“This fine sends a clear message, that enough is enough and under this Labour Government, water bosses will finally be held directly responsible.

“I want residents to be assured, through my campaign, I am taking action locally to stop Southern Water’s sewage dumping in the River Itchen.”

Also commenting on the news nationally, Steve Reed, Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, said:

“Our waterways should be a source of national pride, but years of pollution and underinvestment have left them in a perilous state.

“The public deserves better. That’s why we are placing water companies under special measures through the Water Bill, which will strengthen regulation including new powers to ban the payment of bonuses for polluting water bosses and bring criminal charges against persistent law breakers.

“We will be carrying out a full review of the water sector to shape further legislation that will fundamentally transform how our entire water system works and clean up our rivers, lakes and seas for good.”

Ofwat said the figures are provisional until it completes a review process.

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