Southern Water was fined a record £2 million at Maidstone crown court yesterday for flooding beaches in Kent with raw sewage – the highest fine ever imposed on a UK water company.
In late May and early June 2012 the utility’s wastewater pumping station at Margate suffered a series of failures leaving it unable to cope during a period of heavy rain. As a consequence raw sewage poured on to beaches, forcing Thanet district council to close beaches for nine consecutive days because of health concerns.
Commenting on the incident Julie Foley, area manager at the Environment Agency who led the prosecution, described the pollution as “catastrophic”, saying:
“Southern Water unlawfully discharged huge volumes of sewage on to the beach and into the sea."
“The failures to contain sewage resulted in risk to public health, polluted a considerable length of coastline, including numerous beaches, and resulted in a negative impact on Thanet, which is an area heavily reliant on the local tourism economy.”
“Because of these very major pollution incidents, damage was caused to the reputation of Thanet's designated bathing waters, bays and 'Blue Flag' beaches."
Speaking after the hearing, Southern Water Director and Chief Customer Officer Simon Oates said:
“We apologise unreservedly for the failure of the wastewater pumping station at Foreness Point near Margate. Since 2012 we have invested £4m in the site and have a further £6m investment plan.”
“We’re working hard with partners such as the Environment Agency and Thanet District Council to ensure that the areas bathing water is cleaner than ever. We will continue to invest in the site and work with our partners to ensure Thanet’s bathing waters are clean now and in the future.”
Judge Adele Williams said the £2 million fine - almost double the previous record for a water company – had been imposed in part because of these aggravating factors, commenting:
“The message must go out to directors and shareholders that repeated offending of this nature is wholly unacceptable.”
With the UK government demanding a 50% reduction in storm overflow spills by 2029, the era of reactive management is over. Speaking in the House of Commons on 21 July 2025, then environment secretary Steve Reed said, “This Government will cut water companies’ sewage pollution in half by the end of the decade.”
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