September.

The investment was £30 million more than Southern Water's £140 million operating profit in the same period.

Parent company ScottishPower announced the figures as part of the group's interim results. They showed a six per cent increase in turnover to £1,531 million,

operating profit up £1 million to £325 million and profit before tax of £240 million, down £7 million.

At Southern Water the company's half-year operating profit of £140 million will help fund its continuing programme of improvements in the quality of bathing waters, rivers and drinking water.

Southern Water managing director Ronnie Mercer said: "This investment is part of a £1 billion improvement programme bringing significant benefits to out customers.

"A £1.5 billion improvement programme for the next five years is also being discussed with OFWAT."

A recent OFWAT report confirmed Southern Water was

providing the highest level of service among the country's ten water and waste water companies.

To improve services, Southern Water has opened a £900,000 state-of-the-art control centre to monitor its operations 24 hours a day and work in conjunction with the company's existing customer call centre.

Another OFWAT report revealed Southern Water has the lowest level of water leaks of the ten companies.

It added that the number of bathing beaches in the region meeting strict European standards

has reached 94 per cent, compared to 41 per cent at the time of

privatisation.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.