Southern Water
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| Southern Water Services Ltd | |
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| Type | Limited Company |
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| Founded | 1989 |
| Headquarters | Hampshire, Isle of Wight, West Sussex, East Sussex & Kent |
| Industry | Public Utility |
| Parent | Southern Water Capital Ltd. |
| Website | http://www.southernwater.co.uk |
Southern Water is the utility responsible for wastewater collection and treatment in Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, West Sussex, East Sussex and Kent, and for water supply and distribution in the approximately half of this area. Some areas within the Southern Water region are supplied by a number of smaller water supply companies.
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[edit] History
The Water Act 1973 resulted in the formation of the Southern Water Authority (SWA), taking the responsibility away from the local authorities. Nevertheless, the SWA maintained a regional management approach, retaining three separate regional headquarters:
- Otterbourne near Winchester, covering Hampshire and the Isle of Wight
- Falmer near Brighton, covering East Sussex and West Sussex
- Chatham, covering Kent.
The authority took over the assets and duties of the following water undertakings[1]:
- Hampshire River Authority
- Sussex River Authoritiy
- Kent River Authority (except the area draining into the Thames above Greenhithe)
- Brighton Corporation
- Hastings Corporation
- Southampton Corporation
- Tunbridge Wells Corporation
- Winchester Corporation
- Worthing Corporation
- Isle of Wight River and Water Authority
- Medway Water Board
- North West Sussex Water Board
- Thanet Water Board
- Eastbourne Waterworks Company
- Folkestone and District Water Company
- Mid Kent Water Company
- Mid-Sussex Water Company
- Portsmouth Water Company
- Sevenoaks and Tonbridge Water Company
In 1989 the UK's water industry was privatised, and Southern Water Services Ltd. came into existence. The company was subsequently purchased in a hostile takeover bid by Scottish Power. In 2002, Southern Water once again became independent when Scottish Power sold the company to Southern Water Capital Limited, a consortium of banks and private investors.
[edit] Southern Water today
The three main office buildings continue to be used for the administration and management of the company, along with a newer building in Durrington-on-Sea near Worthing, West Sussex, which is the company's registered headquarters and houses the company's call centre and control centre.
Today the company supplies drinking water to roughly one million households through its 104 water supply works and 13,300 kilometres of water mains. Wastewater is treated by the company's network of 390 treatment works. Also, the treatment of sludge results in a nutrient-rich granulated fertilizer which the company sells to the farming industry.
Southern Water has also opened up some of their activities to the public. This includes the company running guided tours of the Victorian sewers of Brighton and Hove and public access to Bewl Water, one of the largest reservoirs in England.
[edit] Other water supply companies
A number of smaller water supply companies supply water in the same area as Southern Water operates. These include:
- Portsmouth Water
- South East Water
- Mid Kent Water
- Sutton and East Surrey Water
- Folkestone and Dover Water
- Bournemouth and West Hants Water
- Cholderton and District Water
[edit] References
- ^ The Southern Water Authority Constitution Order 1973 (1973 No. 1361)
