AN £11 million enforcement package has been slapped on Wessex Water for failures which repeatedly resulted in sewage spills into watercourses.

Water industry regulator Ofwat said the company and its shareholders would have to pay the money to benefit the environment and its customers, and would also have to put right identified breaches and ensure future compliance.

Ofwat senior enforcement director Lynn Parker said: “Our investigation found Wessex Water failed to effectively operate, maintain, and upgrade its wastewater assets, which meant there were spills from storm overflows when there should not have been.

“To their credit, the company has been one of the more proactive in investigating and rectifying the problems identified.

“We understand the public wants to see transformative change.

“That is why we are prioritising this sector-wide investigation which has so far held five wastewater companies to account to the tune of £240 million in enforcement redress, benefitting the local environment and the customers those companies serve.”

Westcountry Liberal Democrat MPs have slammed Wessex Water, saying ‘no amount of money can atone for the damage already done’.

Local MPs Gideon Amos and Rachel Gilmour were among those backing a letter which said: “Wessex Water has committed environmental vandalism for far too long, carelessly polluting beaches and rivers throughout the South West with filthy sewage.

“New enforcement is vital, but this fine alone will not be anything like enough to protect local families.

“We must ensure these reckless water companies put an end to sewage dumping and stop putting profit above people once and for all.

“This Labour Government’s action on protecting our waterways has been too little, too late, after the Conservatives let the problem fester.

“The Government must act and introduce new blue flag protections for our precious rivers, and follow through with their commitment to replacing the defunct Ofwat with a regulator with teeth.

“Only then can we start to properly hold water companies to account.”

A Wessex Water spokesperson said: “We regret the impact our wastewater performance has had on customers and the environment.

“When the issues at our treatment sites were identified we were quick to fix them, but we do agree there is much more to do, particularly in areas where groundwater enters the sewerage network and can result in overflows operating long after rainfall events.

“The proposals in this package will tackle the problem directly, sealing pipes on private land that we would not normally have powers over, as well as additional monitoring and initiatives like water butts and rain gardens to help customers treat rainwater as a valuable resource.

“This not only prevents pollution but also reduces the risk of sewer flooding for communities.

“Looking ahead, we are planning a step change in the maintenance of our sewerage infrastructure with investment of £300 million in this area by 2030, with expansions to some of our key waste treatment sites either already underway or completed.

“We also continue to encourage sustainable rainwater management, ensuring rain is returned to the environment near where it falls rather than entering the sewer system.”