All our sites operate under strict permit conditions set by our regulators, and we submit our air emissions data to the regulators as and where required.
Air emissions reduction initiatives
Pennon Group and South West Water are actively managing air quality and emissions through various measures. South West Water is collaborating with the Environment Agency to implement the Industrial Emissions Directive, which may involve permit changes and new requirements for relevant sites. The company is also conducting spot checks of stack emissions from standby generation plants as per the Medium Combustion Plant Directive, with potential for further checks at smaller plants in the future.
To address odour emissions from wastewater treatment works, a key performance commitment, South West Water has installed odour monitoring equipment and invested in odour control improvements across multiple sites. The Group is working with industry partners to explore solutions for better monitoring and managing air pollutant emissions from wastewater operations and has started reporting on other air pollutants such as NOx, SO2, and VOCs in its ESG Databook 2023/24.
As part of its Net Zero plans, Pennon Group is trailing the use of 'HVO' bio-fuel for standby power generation as an alternative to diesel, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air quality emissions compared to diesel. Additionally, the Group is transitioning its transport fleet to low and zero-carbon alternatives, including the deployment of more than 50 electric vans, to reduce air quality emissions from fleet activities. Charge points have also been installed across the Group's sites.
Through regulatory compliance, odour control initiatives, industry collaboration, reporting, and sustainable initiatives like biofuels and electric vehicles, Pennon Group and South West Water are taking proactive measures to manage air quality and emissions, demonstrating their commitment to environmental stewardship and reducing their environmental impact.