Southern Water fined £2.4 million for Kent pollution

Southern Water has been fined £2.4 million following environmental damage in Kent. The penalty, imposed at Bromley Magistrates’ Court, relates to pollution incidents occurring between 2019 and 2021 near Whitstable and Faversham.

Investigators found approximately 70 dead fish and eels in August 2021 after raw sewage spilled into Swalecliffe Brook from a wastewater pumping station. The pollution also impacted Whitstable Harbour, a designated shellfishery. Additional illegal discharges during that period led local authorities to issue swimming warnings for Herne Bay and Tankerton beaches due to poor water quality.

The Environment Agency stated that the disruption to local businesses and the environment could have been avoided with better operational management and more effective checks. This fine follows a separate £7 million penalty issued in July regarding sewage discharges at Broadstairs and Margate pumping stations.