Pennon Group, owner of UK’s South West Water and Bristol Water, announced that it is making unprecedented levels of investment in its drainage and sewer systems.
This commitment follows severe criticism directed at Pennon for permitting sewage discharge into the waters surrounding the South West region.
In a trading statement, according to The Business Desk, the Exeter-based company affirmed that its financial performance aligns with management projections for the fiscal year. Additionally, the acquisition of SES Water is progressing through the anticipated review by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).
Its company, South West Water, disclosed at the beginning of March a record-breaking investment of £850 million earmarked for water and wastewater initiatives. “We’re halfway through a two-year £850 million accelerated investment programme to adapt our assets to take account of those changes and challenges,” read a recent press statement.
“We are also investing major sums to make more of the water we have. As well as investing in desalination, we plan to create 2,000 new jobs as part of a wider £2.8 billion investment plan across the Greater South West – a doubling of investment from the first half of this decade. This includes upgrading half of our water treatment works, cutting leakage from our networks to less than 10% and creating a water grid to connect all our strategic reservoirs. We’re also investing in large reservoirs, starting with Cheddar 2 in Bristol.”
In the statement, the company also said it is taking a nature-first approach to take flows out of the systems naturally by using reed beds, smart ponds and smart water butts, helping the planet and reducing the use of electricity.
Furthermore, South West Water stressed that it is working to keep costs as low as possible: “From Stop the Drop to Save Every Drop we are helping customers to save water and save money.”
