SES Water’s commitment to the local environment recognised by achieving biodiversity award for second consecutive year

11/01/22

SES Water has, for the second year in a row, achieved The Wildlife Trusts’ Biodiversity Benchmark for enhancing and protecting the biodiversity at its Elmer Water Treatment Works in Leatherhead.

Following the annual inspection of the site, The Wildlife Trusts’ assessor was satisfied SES Water continues to meet all the requirements and remains the only water company to hold the accreditation.

At the Elmer site, which covers approximately 10.7 hectares and supplies water to the Mole Valley district, six significant habitats are maintained as part of the award. These include: grassland, semi-natural woodland, species-rich hedgerows and dense scrub – all found to be supporting species such as butterflies, dormice, badgers, lizards and slow worms.

In the meantime, biodiversity work continues across all the Company’s sites, with the aim of gaining the Benchmark certification for Bough Beech Reservoir in Kent and Fetcham Springs in Surrey within the next three years.

SES Water Wholesale Director, Tom Kelly, said: “We are immensely proud to have achieved this coveted award for another year and it is testament to all the hard work our teams put into enhancing and protecting the biodiversity at our sites.

“Our commitment to reducing the environmental impact of the essential service we provide is industry leading and our clear Biodiversity Action Plan ensures the careful management of habitats needed for wildlife to thrive, now and in the future.”

Colin Menendez, Biodiversity Benchmark assessor at The Wildlife Trusts, says: "Congratulations to SES Water on retaining accreditation of the Biodiversity Benchmark for the Elmer Treatment Works site. Businesses have a fundamental role to play in protecting at least 30 per cent of land for nature by 2030, helping to restore habitats, reversing catastrophic declines in wildlife, and tackling the climate emergency.”