SOUTHERN Water's programme of environmental improvements is being beefed up to protect the region's rivers and coastline.

It has ploughed nearly £1 million a day into environmental schemes, and managing director Ronnie Mercer is ready to forge ahead with more than 450 individual schemes throughout Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and southern counties.

At least £600 million is earmarked to bring more improvements to sewage treatment levels along the coast, £195m to help safeguard tap water supplies and a further £240 million to improve the sewerage system, benefiting rivers. "This programme will continue the unprecedented environmental improvements seen over the past five years,'' said Mr Mercer.

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