News

Midlands water and waste company Severn Trent has cut leakage, blockages and response times during the pandemic, while also increasing investment and its support for communities and the environment.

In its half-year figures, released today (THURS), the company revealed it:

• Is on track to invest £500m this year - £80m more than had been originally planned, as it looks to help rebuild the region after this most challenging of years;

• Supported 109,000 vulnerable customers with their bills; and 

• Remains on-track to deliver a record performance in reducing the number of blockages in its sewer systems, as well as further reductions in leakage, low pressure and response times. 

For communities it has:

• Donated £1m to 339 charities and non-profits through its COVID Emergency Fund, and another £1.1m to 73 groups through its new Community Fund; 

• Provided fast payment to over 700 small-to-medium sized businesses in its supply chain, supporting thousands of Midland-based companies and jobs in the process; and

• Plans to provide 500 Kickstart placements for 16 - to 24-year-olds, equipping them with the skills and experience they need to help gain jobs.

The company has also started to deliver on its environmental commitments: 

•By launching the Great Big Nature Boost, including plans to revive 12,000 acres of land, plant 1.3m trees and restore 2,000km of rivers by 2030; and

• By being one of only two companies awarded the top 4* rating by the Environment Agency for its environmental performance.

Liv Garfield, Severn Trent Chief Executive, said: “We’re proud to have supported our communities and our customers through this pandemic, when they’ve needed it, and us, the most. 

“We firmly believe we have a responsibility to help our communities get back on their feet as everyone feels the effects of events this year, which is why we’ve increased our investment and our support.

“But we haven’t forgotten our day job in all of this either, so we’ve improved our performance in a number of key areas, while pressing ahead with our environmental commitments, which remain just as important for the long-term health of the patch where we live and work.”

The company is providing this wide-ranging support while still having one of the lowest bills in the country, with customers getting all their clean and wastewater services for less than £1 per day.