The Drinking Water Inspectorate lists 42 live improvement items for Southern Water as of 11 November 2026: 5 enforcement orders, 35 notices and 2 undertakings. Yet 99.98% of the company's drinking water tests were compliant in calendar 2025, according to the regulators' joint report of October 2026.
Three deadlines in spring 2027
The nearest notices, for Bush Road Cuxton and for service reservoirs and the Thanet supply system, have completion dates of 31 October 2026 and 31 January 2027. The next three dates fall within a month of each other. The enforcement order at Yew Hill and West Hill and the notice for Patcham works are both due on 31 March 2027. The notice for Sandown works on the Isle of Wight is due on 30 April 2027.
A long tail of source and asset work
Most items run much longer. The Brighton Nitrate notice is due on 31 October 2030, and undertakings on PFAS and lead strategy on 30 April 2031. Enforcement orders at Hardham, Testwood, Otterbourne and Burham run from 31 January 2032 to 31 October 2034, a Brede chlorate notice runs to 30 November 2033 and a notice on discoloration to 31 July 2035.
Contracts are already moving
In July 2026 Kier won early design contracts for the Hastings Resilience program at Brede and Beauport, expected to be worth more than £30 million, and for Brighton East nitrate removal. Kier says its awards come under the £3.1 billion Strategic Delivery Partner framework for 2025-30.
How these obligations sit beside revenue of £1,443.2 million in FY2025-26, a 1-star environmental rating for 2025 and around £8.9 billion of investment to deliver by 2030 is set out in the profile. The full report, Utility Intelligence Profile: Southern Water, is available for USD 99. For a free overview, read the Southern Water Utility Snapshot.