Southern Water testing moves to Belgian group

Brussels -- Southern Water has awarded a €28 million contract to Eurofins, which is to provide regulatory water testing and sampling services for its operations which serve over four million people across south east England.

Under the five-year deal, Brussels-based Eurofins will be the sole provider of regulatory and analytical water testing and sampling services to Southern Water and assume the laboratory assets currently located at its Falmer, Otterbourne and Chatham sites.

The deal also envisages the transfer of 132 Southern Water staff at the lab facilities to Eurofins. Third party work currently conducted through Southern Water’s Scientific Services business unit will also transfer to Eurofins, as part of the contract.

“Our agreement with Southern Water represents an important and substantial step in Eurofins’ strategic development in the United Kingdom,” said John Rowley, managing Director of Eurofins Environmental Services Ltd.

According to Jon Crooke, operations director of Southern Water the move will enable the company to focus on its core business and secure efficiency gains and cost savings.

Eurofins is an international life sciences company that provides analytical testing services to industries including pharmaceutical, food and environmental. With sales of around $500 million, the company has over 5,000 staff in more than 90 laboratories across 24 countries.