Sewage treatment from Swindon's water supplier raises 'serious concerns'
It's one of five water suppliers to be criticised by the industry regulator
Last updated 9th Mar 2022
Water regulator Ofwat says it has "serious concerns" about the sewage treatment works of Thames Water.
The company, which supplies water to residents across Swindon and parts of Wiltshire, submitted a report in December, which worried the regulator.
Thames Water is one of five suppliers which Ofwat has criticised. The others are Wessex Water, Anglian Water, Northumbrian Water and Yorkshire Water.
'We have identified shortcomings in most water companies'
Ofwat interim boss David Black said: "The data that emerged at the end of last year suggested widespread shortcomings in how water companies were running sewage treatment works. The first phase of our investigation suggests those concerns are credible.
"We have identified shortcomings in most water and wastewater companies and are continuing to investigate.
"But we have already seen enough in five companies to cause serious concern and warrant us taking further action".
Ofwat said the information sent in December raised at least one concern for each firm.
"We will now dig deeper into what these five companies have been doing, with the prospect of formal enforcement against them if we find they are failing on obligations Ofwat enforces.
"In the meantime, we expect them to make quick progress in addressing any potential non-compliance they might have, whilst strengthening how they manage their environmental obligations as a whole," Mr Black added.
The regulator has confirmed it's also monitoring Southern Water, after the company was fined £90 million for 6,791 unpermitted sewage discharges last summer.
How is Thames Water addressing the concerns?
Thames Water says it has been "developing an action plan," to "radically improve" its environmental impact.
A Thames Water spokesperson added: "We have long held the view that it is unacceptable for untreated sewage to enter rivers, even when legally permitted and we take this matter very seriously.
"We have allocated an unprecedented amount of investment directed towards safeguarding our rivers and streams, including spending £1.25 billion on maintaining and improving our operational sites, including contributing to the health of 745 Km of rivers of rivers across London and the Thames Valley.
"Our aim will always be to try and do the right thing for rivers and for the communities who love and value them ... we will fully cooperate with Ofwat on this next stage of the investigation".