SES Water achieves prestigious biodiversity award for second company site

28/03/22

SES Water has achieved The Wildlife Trusts’ Biodiversity Benchmark for enhancing and protecting the biodiversity at its Fetcham Springs water supply site in Surrey.

Fetcham Springs is the second SES Water site to have been awarded the accreditation, following its Elmer Water Treatment Works, which gained the Benchmark in January 2021 and has retained it since.

The Wildlife Trusts’ assessor was satisfied SES Water meets all the requirements for the award and remains the only water company to currently hold the accreditation.

At the Fetcham Springs site, which covers approximately 13 acres and supplies water to Elmer Treatment Works, five significant habitats are maintained as part of the award. These include: semi-improved grassland, standing water and vegetation, running water, semi-natural woodland and dense scrub, as well as scattered trees – all found to be supporting species including invertebrates, birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians. The assessor also noted the site is a particular haven for birds nesting over the winter, as well as dragon flies and damsel flies.

In the meantime biodiversity work continues across all the Company’s sites, with the aim of gaining the Benchmark certification for Bough Beech Treatment Works in Kent by 2025. The latest award is another example of the Company’s close relationship with nature and commitment to protecting the local environment. 

SES Water Wholesale Director, Tom Kelly, said: “This is another fantastic achievement and one which has only been made possible through the hard work and dedication of our biodiversity leads and operational teams.

“Being recognised with this award for our second site underscores just how important improving and protecting biodiversity is to us as a business and puts us firmly on track to meet one of our key environmental aims – to have three sites accredited with the Biodiversity Benchmark by 2025 – while also laying firm foundations for our longer-term strategy.” 

Colin Menendez, Biodiversity Benchmark assessor at The Wildlife Trusts, says: "Congratulations to SES Water on getting accreditation for the Biodiversity Benchmark on a second site.  This time at Fetcham Springs.  In combination with being a water supply site it is an especially attractive habitat amongst housing.  The company’s focus on enhancing the management of the habitat at Fetcham Springs will help both its wildlife and the local community.”