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<p>The Government works closely with the regulators including the Environment Agency
and Ofwat to support their work to monitor Southern Water's performance and to hold
them to account to deliver improvements for their customers and the environment.</p><p>
</p><p>The EPA report which spans the last 12 months makes for extremely disappointing
reading. Even the industry-leading water companies have more work to do, especially
on the use of storm overflows. The worse performing companies like Southern are still
failing to live up to their responsibilities to regulators, their customers and the
environment. Water companies have a legal duty to avoid pollution to our rivers and
other waterways.</p><p> </p><p>Although it has improved on last year's one star rating,
Southern Water remains one of the worst performing companies. Southern has a package
of undertakings to deliver, following enforcement action in 2018. The package includes
steps to improve investment and performance at its wastewater treatment works and
to increase transparency for customers about its environmental performance.</p><p>
</p><p>I met with Southern Water's management team earlier this year to discuss their
environmental performance. Emma Howard Boyd, Chair of the Environment Agency, also
recently met with Southern Water's Chair, and the Secretary of State will be meeting
with them to discuss their 2020 EPA results.</p>
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