The ex-CEO of Southern Water is being prosecuted by the Environment Agency alongside three other former employees.
Matthew Wright and his former colleagues, Philip Barker, Clive Massey and Mark Gregory, have been accused of conspiring to defraud the EA and Ofwat between January 2012 and December 2017.
It is alleged they manipulated the Operator Self-Monitoring (OSM) compliance testing regime, which requires water companies to take samples at their sewage treatment works and report the results to the EA.
The firm has avoided paying at least £45m worth of fines, with the true figure likely to be higher, as a result of the manipulation, according to EA.
It marks the first time a water company CEO has personally faced a criminal prosecution by the regulator. The offence carries a maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment.
The i Paper has been calling on the EA to pursue prosecutions against water companies as part of its Save Britain’s Rivers campaign.
Southern Water will separately face charges of breaching environmental permits linked to the same conduct. Three further individuals will also face charges linked to failure to comply with environmental permits.
An Environment Agency spokesperson said: “We can confirm that we are taking criminal proceedings against Southern Water Services Limited and a number of former employees.
“We take our responsibility to protect the environment very seriously and will always pursue and prosecute those alleged to have committed serious offending against the environment. We welcome this important judgment.”
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