Wessex Water’s chief financial officer (CFO) has been barred from receiving bonuses following a criminal conviction linked to severe sewage pollution incidents in Somerset. This decision aligns with new government regulations enforced by Ofwat, the water industry regulator, which prohibit bonuses for company leaders convicted of criminal offenses or failing to meet essential environmental standards.
Over the past decade, Wessex Water has paid over £4.2 million in bonuses to its executives. However, in November 2024, the company pleaded guilty to illegal sewage discharges affecting wildlife in two separate incidents: one at a marsh rhyne in Wick St Lawrence near Weston-super-Mare, and another near Melksham in Wiltshire from 2018.
The November ruling resulted in a £500,000 fine for Wessex Water. The pollution caused by a burst pressurized sewage pipe in Wick St Lawrence resulted in the death of spined stickleback fish and eels. Investigations revealed the pipe had been identified as critical but was left unmonitored prior to the incident. Meanwhile, in Melksham, a mechanical failure discharged sewage for over two days into Clackers Brook, a watercourse flowing into the River Avon. This spill devastated the local ecosystem, killing over 2,100 fish including threatened species such as eels, lamprey, and bullheads. Additional unreported discharges from that year were also uncovered during the investigation.
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As part of a wider crackdown, six water companies have been prohibited from paying top executive bonuses under the Water (Special Measures) Act, though Wessex Water is unique in facing a ban due to a criminal conviction. Environment Secretary Steve Reed commented, “Water company bosses should only receive bonuses for good performance, not when they allow pollution to persist. This ban is a crucial part of the government’s commitment to restoring the health of our rivers, lakes, and seas.”
Wessex Water’s current CEO is exempt from the ban as she was not in position during the pollution events. Nonetheless, the company has confirmed that neither the CEO nor CFO will receive bonuses this year. A spokesperson highlighted that since the incidents, the company has taken significant steps to prevent future harm, including swift emergency repairs, the deployment of AI monitoring technology, and plans for a substantial £300 million investment in sewer infrastructure by 2030.
These measures reflect Wessex Water’s commitment to accountability and environmental responsibility, aligning with new government and regulatory standards aimed at safeguarding water quality and ecosystems.