Water company in court

Legal representatives of Southern Water appeared at Chichester Crown Court on Monday.

The water company was charged with discharging untreated sewerage effluent into coastal waters or relevant territorial waters without authorisation between August 31 and September 4, 2012.

The Environment Agency has also accused the company of two additional counts of contravening environmental permits.

These offences are alleged to have taken place between November 30, 2011 and September 4, 2012.

The company’s legal representatives entered pleas of not guilty to all three of the offences.

The hearing is listed for seven-days, scheduled to start on July 27.

It is anticipated the proceedings will be completed within five, a spokesman for the firm said.