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The Latest Breaking News from Southern Water

Dry weather sewage discharges soar as water companies face scrutiny

Exclusive: 7,280 suspected illegal spills in rivers and sea recorded in first five months of 2026

The Guardian - UK

England is officially in drought – how do we fix our water woes?

LET’S UNPACK THAT: With the drought hitting millions and putting Southern Water weeks away from completely running dry, Helen Coffey looks at what we can do as individuals – and as a nation – to conserve water as back-to-back heatwaves look set to be a recurring aspect of life

The Independent UK

Britain on course for hottest summer on record as fifth heatwave hits

Britain's fifth heatwave of the summer is expected to peak on Thursday. An amber extreme heat warning remains in force across large parts of England until midnight.

The Times of India

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Water customers are not a ‘blank cheque’, Burnham tells suppliers

Companies in England and Wales get green light for extra spending that will add billions to bills

The Guardian - UK

UK Extreme Heat Warning Deepens Water Crisis as Southern Water Seeks Business Use Ban

Southern Water seeks a business water-use ban as an amber extreme heat warning adds pressure to drought-hit England.

International Business Times UK

Everything you can’t do in a heatwave as drought hits most of the UK

Water companies across the South of England and Wales have imposed hosepipe bans

The Independent UK

Swimming pools and car washes could be banned as drought declared across most of England

Nearly three-quarters of England and all of Wales plunged into drought as UK on the verge of fifth heatwave

The Independent UK

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Hosepipe ban: When will restrictions end?

Nine water companies across England and Wales have imposed hosepipe bans following persistent hot and dry weather

The Independent UK

London hosepipe ban: How is it enforced and what are the penalties?

As many as 10 million people are being impacted by hosepipe bans, but how are they being enforced and are people following the rules?

Evening Standard

Southern Water Chiefs Face Fraud Trial Over Alleged Wastewater Test Manipulation

Former Southern Water chief Matthew Wright lost a High Court bid to block fraud charges over alleged wastewater test manipulation and fake no-flow events.

International Business Times UK

Ex-Southern Water CEO Charged with Faking Tests to Dodge £45m Fines, but Firm Faces Separate Case

Southern Water's ex-CEO and colleagues face fraud charges for allegedly manipulating wastewater tests to avoid environmental fines, with potential penalties exceeding £45 million.

International Business Times UK

Ex-Southern Water boss to face trial over allegedly manipulating sewage testing

Former CEO Matthew Wright and three other ex-employees named in criminal proceedings by Environment Agency

The Guardian - UK

Former UK water company CEO charged over alleged water test fraud

Under UK law, intentionally altering wastewater flows during regulatory sampling is a criminal offence. If convicted, Wright faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Euronews

Ex-Southern Water chief charged over ‘efforts to manipulate water quality tests’

Matthew Wright has been accused alongside three others of conspiring to defraud the Environment Agency and water regulator Ofwat.

Evening Standard

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Evening Standard

Ex-Southern Water boss charged with conspiracy to defraud over water tests

The summons was issued last year, but Matthew Wright then launched a legal challenge over the move.

The Independent UK

Former boss of Southern Water charged with conspiracy to defraud over water tests

IN FULL

The Independent UK

Ex-Southern Water boss charged over ‘plan to manipulate quality tests’

Matthew Wright has been accused alongside three others of conspiring to defraud the Environment Agency and Ofwat

The Independent UK

Southern Water fined £7m after dumping illegal sewage off Kent coast

The company was fined £90 million for nearly 7,000 incidents across Hampshire, Kent and Sussex

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Evening Standard

Southern Water fined £7m over sewage pollution in Kent

The company pleaded guilty to 13 offences last April over sewage discharges at Margate and Broadstairs wastewater pumping stations.

Evening Standard

When will it rain again in London? Hosepipe ban fears grow in the capital

Could a hosepipe ban be introduced in London - and when is it next going to rain?

Evening Standard

How hot will it get during the London heatwave?

Forecaster predicts temperatures will reach ‘absolute peak’ on Thursday and Friday

The Times of India

78-year-old UK great-grandmother left shaken after utility firm mistakenly declares her dead over £60 bill

A 78-year-old great-grandmother in the UK was sent a debt collection letter addressed to the executor of her estate after a utility company mistakenly recorded her as dead.

The Guardian - UK

High levels of toxic ‘forever chemicals’ found off coast of southern England

Study of Channel finds levels of toxic Pfas in Solent at 13 times safe limits in some places, with much coming from treated sewage

The Independent UK

Risk of drought in UK grows after unusually dry start to spring

Low river levels after dry April means river flows and groundwater levels have fallen ahead of the summer

Evening Standard

Court orders campaigner to pay unpaid Southern Water wastewater bills

Julie Wassmer has withheld paying for the sewage portion of her water bill since 2021.

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