Southern Water's chief executive was subjected to a citizen's arrest by anti-pollution protesters as he arrived at a conference in London.
A group of six women from the Citizen's Arrest Network surrounded Lawrence Gosden and accused him of four counts of causing a public nuisance.
The allegations centre on illegal sewage spills, equipment maintenance standards, and the alleged "mismanagement" of funds.
The women called the police and presented officers with a "dossier of evidence" when they arrived to release Mr Gosden.
A Citizen's Arrest Network spokesperson said: "Under Gosden, Southern Water is responsible for the most serious category of sewage pollution into rivers and seas and is under investigation by the Environment Agency.
"In July a letter signed by ten MPs representing constituencies served by Southern Water urged Gosden to reject his bonus following bill increases and poor water quality."
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The spokesperson added: "This month millions of toxic plastic beads washed up on the beach of Camber Sands in East Sussex. It's been called the "worst plastic pellet pollution incident on the UK coast for years" and an "ecological disaster".
"The beads were released by Southern Water, who did not admit to this drastic pollution for weeks.
"They are dangerous if not deadly to wildlife - and therefore all living creatures in the food chain - and are expected to have delivered sewage pathogens straight to the adults and children living in the area."
Southern Water declined to comment on the citizen's arrest of Mr Gosden.
Earlier this year the chief executive of Anglican Water, Mark Thurston, was subjected to a citizen's arrest on his way to work.
In a separate incident, an attempt was made to detain the boss of Thames Water, Chris Weston.
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A Citizen's Arrest Network spokesperson said those making decisions that drove the worst pollution incidents would be held to account.
Southern Water did not initially claim responsibility for the Camber Sands spill, but on November 10 said it believed the bio-beads had come from the Eastbourne wastewater treatment works, where they were used to remove bacteria.
The company said a screening filter failed, resulting in the beads being released into the sea though an outfall.
Southern Water said it began to work with partner agencies immediately after receiving reports of beads being washed up along the coastline.
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