Environmental Activist Takes Legal Action Against Southern Water for River Pollution
Mike Deacon, a dedicated volunteer who monitored pollution levels in the Sussex Ouse river for 13 years, is now taking legal action against Southern Water. Deacon, a lifelong angler and resident close to the river, believes that the company’s actions have contributed to pollution in the river and has caused harm to fish stocks. In response to Southern Water’s legal action over unpaid bills, Deacon is counter-suing the company for “loss of amenity.”
Deacon’s refusal to pay more than £1 a month since 2021 is part of a larger movement of customers withholding payment of their water bills. These customers are protesting against river and sea pollution. The Consumer Council for Water recently reported that Southern Water has received the most complaints among all water companies, naming them as one of the “poor performers” in handling complaints.
The issue of water pollution and the state of the water network has been a long-standing concern. The water industry has faced criticism for leaks, sewage spills, and accumulating over £54 billion in debt since privatization in 1989 while paying out £66 billion in shareholder dividends. There is now a plan to upgrade the water network, including measures to tackle sewage, reduce leaks, and build reservoirs. However, customers like Deacon find it unjust to have to cover the cost of pollution caused by the same company they are paying for.
As a former advertising art director, Deacon has a deep connection to the river and has been fishing since he was a child. Seeing the deteriorating state of the river in 2009, he organized a clean-up and became the pollution monitor for the Sussex Ouse Conservation Society, now known as the Ouse and Adur Rivers Trust (OART). Deacon’s efforts included collecting water samples and providing evidence to the Environment Agency to enforce pollution controls.
While water companies are not solely responsible for river pollution, Deacon believes that Southern Water’s sewage discharges from treatment plants upstream have contributed to the deterioration of the river environment and a decline in fish and wildlife populations. He claims that there has been a significant decrease in fish stocks, with a potential extinction risk for sea trout in the Sussex Ouse river. Southern Water disputes this claim.
Katy Colley from boycottwaterbills.com applauds Deacon’s fight and emphasizes that there are thousands of people across the country who are taking a stand against polluters. Southern Water defends itself by stating that it has not paid dividends since 2017, bills have decreased by 20% since 2010, and they are investing £3 billion to improve environmental performance and fix leaks.
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