Southern Water faces private prosecution for polluting iconic chalk stream (Oceanographic Magazine)
Southern Water, which provides water and wastewater for East Kent, parts of Sussex, Hampshire, and the Isle of Wight, is facing a private prosecution for polluting the River Test in Hampshire.
Environmental organisation Fish Legal last week served summons on the water company at its head office in Worthing. The charges relate to pollution entering the Test from an outfall operated by Southern Water at Nursling Industrial Estate near Southampton.
The world-renowned River Test is a rare chalk stream habitat, one of only around 200 such rivers in the world. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest supporting Atlantic salmon, otters, water voles, brook lamprey, and bullhead but less than 18% of it is in ‘favourable’ condition. The section between Romsey and the estuary, the focus of the criminal case, is currently classified as ‘unfavourable’ due to polluting discharges.
To read the full article on oceanographicmagazine.com follow the link: Southern Water faces private prosecution for polluting iconic chalk stream – Oceanographic (oceanographicmagazine.com)
