Southern Water given final warning over delays to £350m project

The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) has served the company with a Final Enforcement Notice following delays affecting a £350m project that is not due to finish until 2034.

The scheme involves a raft of improvements to the water supply plant at Otterbourne.

Bottled water stations were opened after thousands of Southern Water customers had their supply cut off last month (Image: Newsquest.)

Last month, an issue at the works left at least 13,000 customers in Southampton and Winchester with little or no water for several days.

Bottled water stations were set up at the Ageas Bowl and several other locations to keep householders supplied.

Southern Water said its systems shut down after they detected that untreated water was not being filtered properly. The fault resulted in a lengthy clean-up operation.

It followed a previous water supply problem that affected thousands of customers across southern Hampshire a few days before Christmas, sparking widespread anger.

The Daily Echo can reveal that another problem arose at the works on February 25.

A Southern Water spokesman said: "A technical error affected our ability to source groundwater. The recovery process takes a number of days so an emergency response team worked hard to make sure there was no impact to customers.

"We were able to cover the shortfall via alternative sources and procedures."

Bottled water stations were set up after thousands of Southern Water customers had their supply cut off last month (Image: Newsquest.)

North Baddesley councillor Geoff Cooper has urged the government to strip Southern Water of its licence over the supply problems seen in December and February.

In 2018, the DWI served the company with regulatory notices relating to several of its sites, including Otterbourne.

A DWI spokesman said: "These sites were in need of improvement to mitigate potential risks to the water supply and to ensure the company continues to meet its regulatory duties in respect of the provision of a wholesome water supply.

"Due to delays, the inspectorate has taken further action by way of issuing a Final Enforcement Order at Otterbourne."

READ MORE: Southern Water to pay out £3m to householders left with little or no water

A Southern Water spokesperson added: "The project is replacing the major treatment processes on the site whilst the site continues to supply drinking water.

"It started in 2018 and is due to complete in 2034.

"The project has experienced delays associated with the pandemic, a global shortage of key components, and supply chain delays resulting from the national shortage of material and labour."

Failure to comply with a DWI enforcement notice can result in regulators taking court action.