Consistent care
When it comes to looking after the environment, you want steady, reliable and strong performance, not a flash in a pan. Working every day, month and year, to make a positive difference to the places we all love.
That’s why it’s good news that we’ve been awarded the highest possible four-star status in the Environment Agency’s Environmental Performance Assessment (‘EPA’) for the sixth year running.
You want to know that your water company is in this for the long-term. Getting a four-star status is about getting on with the job. It’s about thousands of everyday actions – making decisions, responding quickly and taking care – that add up over time.
What this looks like
The EPA covers areas like environmental improvement, pollution prevention and sustainable water management. It covers seven different targets including pollution performance, managing discharges, delivering environmental improvement projects and making sure customers have a reliable water supply.
As you’d expect, performing well across all of the measures is the ideal, as it means a better future for the environment across our region. Anyone can see the results, independently verified and published. You want to know what your water company is doing, and we agree with you.
For the most recent year, you can see our performance here:
Still learning, still improving
You want to know that your water company is always getting better, and it’s no different when it comes to environmental performance. In fact, the EPA targets get tighter every year, so standing still isn’t an option.
You’ll see us doing even more in the months and years ahead. A four-star rating is just a good place to start, after all. There’s more to do and some of the things we’re working on include:
A team effort
This is the result of thousands of people taking care of the places around them and working together. Inside Severn Trent that means scientists, engineers, data experts, river rangers and many others, all sharing the same goal – you can see some of their stories below.
We work closely with environmental charities, local authorities and regional bodies to make sure what we do has lasting value. And every day, we’re speaking to and working with local people – river users, farmers and landowners. You want the same things – and this is your shared result.
The people behind the results
The River Ranger
Here’s one of our River Rangers, based on the Severn near Shrewsbury. Every day he’s monitoring his patch, sampling the water, talking to the public and managing any issues.
There’s a team of 11 Severn Trent River Rangers who’ve carried out thousands of river visits since formed in 2022. They also help support local environmental and nature groups across the region
“It’s great to see a difference on the Severn. It’s different every day. People really appreciate that we’re here to help and make this place better for anyone.”
The project manager
Our capital delivery project managers work on some of the biggest improvements, like this £25 million storage tank near Stroud, Gloucestershire. It was a massive undertaking – 25m deep and with the equivalent capacity of 24,500 bathtubs.
Designed to hold excess rainwater from acr0oss the Cotswold, the tank is part of an upgrade to Stroud’s sewer network and will cut spills into rivers and watercourses.
“This gives the people in Stroud a more reliable sewer network while helping to protect local places like the River Frome. I’m really proud of what we’ve done here.”
The agricultural advisor
Severn Trent’s agricultural advisors work closely with local farms to help them be as efficient as possible while protecting the local water catchment area.
Some of the work they’ve been doing recently has included helping farms use land at risk from flooding more effectively, planting herbal leys for livestock grazing and reducing pesticide use. They’ve also advised on grants available to support environmentally friendly practices.
“Farmers do a really tough job to get food on our plates. I feel great to be able to support them, and at the same time help protect the wider environment.”
The sampling scientist
Our labs deal with hundreds of water samples every day from across the region. There’s a team of experts making sure that the water we deliver to customers every day is the best it can be.
We test for dozens of different substances, as well as micro-organisms that could be harmful to human health. It’s a non-stop effort, but vital for public health.
“I really feel like we’re making a difference. Water is just so important to everyone, and it’s only right that you feel you can trust what’s coming out of your tap every day.”