Severn Trent criticised over sewage failings but avoids fine

Severn Trent Water has been found to have “serious and unacceptable” failings in the way it managed wastewater and sewage, according to the industry regulator.

Ofwat said the company, which supplies water services across Leicestershire, breached its obligations by failing to effectively provide drainage and manage the contents of its sewer network.

The regulator also found the company had historically failed to meet licence requirements around having adequate systems and processes in place.

However, Ofwat has not issued a financial penalty, saying Severn Trent had already identified problems within its network and started addressing them before an enforcement case was opened in July 2024.

The company has been ordered to fix all remaining issues and ensure it complies with its responsibilities in future.

Lynn Parker, Ofwat’s senior director for Enforcement, said the breaches were “serious and unacceptable” but praised the company’s response in identifying problems, investing in improvements and working with the regulator.

Severn Trent said it accepts Ofwat’s findings and said its proactive approach and investment in wastewater assets had been recognised.

A spokesperson said: “We accept the breaches identified, and our proactive approach and investment in our wastewater assets prior to the opening of the enforcement case has been recognised. Ofwat also acknowledges our strong Board oversight as well as our operational controls.”

The company said it had committed £450 million by 2030 through its spills reduction programme to upgrade storm overflows and storage capacity.

Severn Trent Chief Executive James Jesic said: “We accept Ofwat’s findings relating to issues that we proactively identified and began addressing before the enforcement case was opened. By monitoring and investing early to put things right, we are now seeing the benefits, including reducing average storm overflow spills by 41% in 2025.”

The company provides wastewater services across much of Leicestershire, but Anglian Water is responsible for the Market Harborough area.