Severn Trent

Severn Trent plc is a water company based in Coventry, England. It supplies water to 4.6 million households and businesses across the Midlands, South West, and Wales. The company is traded on the London Stock Exchange and is part of the FTSE 100 Index.

Severn Trent operates as a group of companies in the United Kingdom, the United States, and mainland Europe, with some involvement in the Middle East. The company got its name from two earlier River Authorities that managed the areas of the Severn and the Trent rivers. This history helped shape the company's role in providing clean water and supporting communities in many places.

History

The Severn Trent Water Authority started in 1974. In 1989, it became a private company under rules set by the Water Act 1989. Its job was to give clean water and take care of waste for about 8 million people in the Midlands of England, plus some parts of Wales and the South West.

Over the years, the company grew by buying other businesses. In 1991, it bought Biffa, a waste management company. Later, in 2006, Biffa was separated and listed on its own with the London Stock Exchange. In 2007, the company moved its main office from Birmingham to a new building in Coventry.

In 2017, Severn Trent bought Dee Valley Water, another water company nearby. They adjusted their areas in 2018 so that Dee Valley took over water work in Wales. In 2023, Severn Trent made history by having all women leading top jobs. In 2025, Liv Garfield left after leading the company for 11 years.

Operations

Severn Trent is a big water company in England. It has several main parts, including Severn Trent Water, Hafren Dyfrdwy, and Severn Trent Services. In 2010, the company changed the name of Severn Trent Laboratories to fit better with Severn Trent Services.

The company helps take care of nature in places like Shropshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, and the Peak District. In 2020, it started a project called “Great Big Nature Boost” to help wildlife.

As of 2021, Severn Trent gives water to about 4.6 million homes and businesses. It has offices in Coventry, Derby, and Shrewsbury. In 2021, it started working with a company called Kraken Technologies to use clean energy and electric vehicles. By 2030, all of its cars will be electric.

In 2024, Severn Trent was the only water company in Britain to get top marks for protecting the environment for the sixth year in a row.

Regulation and criticism

In 2004, a smaller company felt that Severn Trent did not follow the right rules when choosing contractors for important water work. The company argued they did not have enough time to join with others to meet Severn Trent’s requirements, but the court agreed with Severn Trent.

In 2007, heavy floods caused problems at a water treatment plant, leaving around 150,000 people without clean water.

In 2008, Severn Trent was fined for giving wrong information and for not serving its customers well. Later reports showed that the company had more leaks than any other in England and Wales.

In 2016, customers in Derbyshire were told not to use their water because it had too much chlorine.

In 2024, the company was fined for letting a large amount of untreated water flow into a river. The same year, it was accused of making its finances look better than they were, which the company denied.

In 2025, the company faced criticism for how it treated an employee who made strong comments online about a political event.

Reservoirs

The company has many reservoirs that people can visit for fun activities. Some of these reservoirs include:

• Carsington Reservoir – a special water storage area on the River Derwent
• Upper Derwent Valley (Derwent, Howden and Ladybower Reservoirs) – built to provide water for the cities of Sheffield, Derby, Nottingham and Leicester
• Bartley Reservoir
• Draycote Water
• Foremark Reservoir
• Shustoke Reservoir
• Tittesworth reservoir
• Ogston Reservoir
• Linacre Reservoirs (not used since 1995)
• Barby Storage Reservoir

Severn Trent Water also manages the water cleaning systems at the Elan Valley Reservoirs.