Ofwat has issued Wessex Water with an £11m enforcement package after the utilities firm failed to operate its wastewater network adequately to ensure it could cope with sewage and wastewater flows.

The package follows the regulator’s proposed decision announced on 11 November, and a 21-day consultation, where customers and stakeholders could feedback on the draft decision.

Wessex Water’s investment will be paid for by the company and its shareholders, and not through customer bills.

The package includes helping private landowners to seal their sewer pipes to prevent unnecessary groundwater reaching Wessex Water’s network, and reducing spills at specific storm overflows through investment, which would have otherwise occurred beyond 2030.

Wessex Water has invested more than £150m since 2020 on upgrading storm overflows in its region and already has plans in place running until 2030 to address compliance issues that Ofwat has identified at its wastewater treatment works and network.

It also includes the installation of monitoring equipment to better enable management of flows at treatment works and storm overflows, and assisting customers to sustainably manage rainwater at their properties.

Wessex Water follows the conclusion of cases against Yorkshire Water, Thames Water, Northumbrian Water, Anglian Water and South West Water earlier this year, which to date have resulted in enforcement action worth more than £240m.

Senior director of enforcement at Ofwat, Lynn Parker, commented: "We are pleased with the conclusion of Wessex Water’s case. This is the sixth case completed in our wider wastewater investigation, which during 2025 has resulted in Ofwat securing £250m in fines and enforcement packages.

"These cases are a crucial part of holding water companies to account and driving the transformation of the water sector that the public wants to see."

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