'I refused to pay my water bill for three years'

A woman has been ordered to pay her water bill after withholding payment as a protest for nearly three years.

Claire North, from Barnham in West Sussex, said she cancelled her direct debit to Southern Water as they were "polluting and destroying our environment".

"They are releasing sewage in the seas and rivers," she told the BBC. "They are not fulfilling their responsibilities to customers."

Southern Water said it was spending about £8.5bn to meet the expectations of its customers in protecting the environment and providing a better service to communities.

A spokesperson added: "We rely on bills to achieve these improvements.

"They also help us support those customers who need extra help to pay, through our social tariff schemes."

On Monday, North was ordered by Worthing County Court to pay the nearly £1,000 she owed to Southern Water.

"We should try and stand up to these companies," North said. "People want real change."

North added that she decided to stop paying her water bill in April 2023 after seeing sewage when she took her children to the beach.

"We need to try and think of the future and what we're leaving behind for our children," she said.

She added that frequent sewage spills, failing infrastructure and water supply interruptions were affecting people's quality of life.

"I've got the money in the bank, and I am able to pay, but it's just the principle," she said.

"Nothing seems to be changing very quickly."

She urged others to boycott paying their water bills, though said she understood why many people would not.

Southern Water said it was duty bound to pursue non payers as a regulated company.

Not paying a bill can negatively impact a person's credit rating and potentially result in additional legal and debt recovery costs being added to their bill.

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