Water company faces prosecution

Southern Water is facing a private prosecution for polluting the River Test.

Environmental organisation Fish Legal has served summons on the water company with charges relating to pollution entering the Test from an outfall operated by Southern Water at Nursling Industrial Estate near Southampton.

The world-renowned River Test is a rare chalkstream habitat, one of only around 200 such rivers in the world. This Site of Special Scientific Interest supports Atlantic salmon, otters and water voles. George Graham, chair of Fish Legal, said: “After years without effective action by the Environment Agency, we have been forced to take a private prosecution to protect this precious chalkstream.”