Severn Trent’s profits triple as it fails drinking water risk rules

Severn Trent nearly tripled profits in the first half of its financial year while also failing to meet drinking water risk regulations. Photograph: Severn Trent/PA

Severn Trent has nearly tripled its profits even as the FTSE 100 water company said it had failed to meet a drinking water risk standard.

The company, which serves 4.7 million customers stretching from Bristol and mid-Wales to the Humber, said it would be “in penalty this year” over a measure of water quality known as the compliance risk index (CRI).