Severn Trent Regulatory News (SVT)

Severn Trent Plc confirms third year of 4-star EPA status

We confirm today that we have been awarded 4-star Environmental Performance Assessment ('EPA') status by the Environment Agency for the third year running, reflecting our long-standing commitment to the environment. We are one of three companies to be awarded the highest rating on environmental performance.

The EPA is a tool for comparing performance between water companies and includes six key metrics:

1. Discharge permit compliance

This measure reflects the performance of site compliance with numeric discharge permit conditions. We have achieved green status for the third consecutive year on this metric in 2021, as our teams continue to prioritise compliance through our unique "communication cell" approach, which underpins our performance culture.

2. Pollution incidents

For the second consecutive year we have achieved green status on this measure, close to our best-ever performance (achieved in 2020). We are making good progress with our plan to reduce pollutions by 50% by 2025, from a 2020 baseline. We are rolling out 40,000 sewer sensors across our network this AMP and using data analytics to identify and fix problems before they cause a pollution.

3. Serious pollution incidents

We have made significant progress in our performance since 2018 and in both 2019 and 2020 we achieved green status. While our performance remains ahead of the sector average, we are disappointed to achieve amber status on this metric in 2021. It is a key area of focus for us and at the halfway point of 2022 there have been zero confirmed serious pollution incidents, which we are working hard to maintain.

4. Self-reporting of pollution incidents

This measures the percentage of category 1 to 3 pollution incidents self-reported by a water company. We have seen a year-on year improvement from 2020 to 2021, meeting the 90% threshold at pumping stations and sewage treatment works and hitting green for total self-reported pollutions. For the last four years our metric has been green. We expect to maintain this as we introduce more extensive monitoring on our network and fully deploy our new River Rangers team.

5. Supply Demand Balance Index

This metric assesses how the actual supply demand balance has performed compared to what is set out in a water company's Water Resources Management Plan. For 2021 this is a new measure and we were pleased to be assessed as green.

6. Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP)

This metric relates to the delivery of investment required to ensure we meet tightening environmental standards. In FY22 we delivered over 900 WINEP schemes, of which over 300 counted towards our EPA, achieving 100% and green status. Our WINEP programme is a vital component of our Get River Positive plan, in particular our commitments to reduce the average number of spills to 20 by 2025, and zero RNAGs (Reasons for Not Achieving Good ecological status) from our operations by 2030.

Liv Garfield, Chief Executive, Severn Trent Plc, said:

"The environment is at the heart of everything we do and we're pleased to have again been recognised as a leading performer in the sector, achieving the Environment Agency's highest four-star rating for the third year running. That said we are not complacent, and we know there is more to do. Whether it's our Get River Positive pledges, creating bathing quality stretches of river or introducing lost species, we are continuing to work hard to enhance nature across our region. We're focussed on continually improving our performance and preserving our region's most precious natural resource for the benefit of our customers and communities."

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