Latest news with #pollutionincidents
The Independent
18-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Serious sewage spills up 60 per cent in last year - with one company responsible for more than a third of incidents
Serious water pollution incidents rose by 60 per cent last year with three companies responsible for the majority of them, the Environment Agency (EA) have said. The latest data from across England showed that Thames Water, Southern Water and Yorkshire Water were behind 81 per cent of cases, but added that there had been 'consistently poor performance' across all nine water companies. Meanwhile, just two companies - Northumbrian Water and Wessex Water - had no serious incidents last year, meeting the Environment Agencies expectations to see a trend to zero pollution incidents by 2025. Thames Water accounted for 33 of 75 serious incidents recorded by the EA - more than a third of the total. Overall, the watchdog said all pollution incidents increased by 29 per cent, with water companies recording 2,801, up from 2,174 in 2023. Every year, the EA assesses pollution incidents from water firms into categories, with category 1 (major) and category 2 (significant) being the most serious. The EA, who have come under fire for their own oversight of pollution performance from water companies, said they were 'particularly concerned' about the rise in spills from pipes carrying wastewater uphill. Reasons behind the 2024 results were given as persistent underinvestment in new infrastructure, poor asset maintenance, and reduced resilience due to the impacts of climate change. Alan Lovell, chair of the Environment Agency said: 'This report demonstrates continued systemic failure by some companies to meet their environmental targets. 'The water industry must act urgently to prevent pollution from occurring and to respond rapidly when it does. 'We have made significant changes to tighten our regulation of the water industry and ensure companies are held to account. With a dedicated larger workforce and increased funding, our officers are uncovering and acting on failures to comply with environmental law.' Meanwhile, MPs have said the system of regulating water companies needs 'a complete overhaul' as the sector hikes customer bills to expand failing infrastructure and tackle pollution. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said the government must act with urgency to strengthen oversight of the sector to rebuild trust and ensure its poor performance improves. In a report released on Tuesday, the committee highlighted how bills are expected to rise at their fastest rate in 20 years while customer trust in the sector is at an all-time low. The EA has also been handed its largest ever budget for tackling pollution, with a cash injection of more than £189m for this financial year. The Environment Department (Defra) said the money will help to fund more enforcement officers, improved equipment and the latest technology. The regulator will carry out more than 10,000 inspections of water company assets this year and has launched a record 81 criminal investigations into water company pollution incidents since July 2024. A Water UK spokesperson said: "While there have been some improvements, it is clear that the performance of some companies is not good enough. "This is finally being put right, with a record £104 billion investment over the next five years to secure our water supplies, support economic growth and end sewage entering our rivers and seas. "However, fundamental change to regulation is also needed. We hope that the recommendations of the Independent Water Commission next week will ensure the sector continues to get the investment it needs to drive down pollution incidents."
Telegraph
18-07-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Serious pollution incidents linked to water companies rises 60 per cent
The number of serious water pollution incidents rose by 60 per cent last year, a watchdog has found. Three water companies – Thames Water, Southern Water and Yorkshire Water – were responsible for the bulk of the incidents, according to the Environment Agency (EA). It comes after the same firms were criticised this week for announcing controversial hosepipe bans while also overseeing major leaks and paying senior executives six-figure salaries. The EA's annual environmental performance assessment (EPA) found the three companies were responsible for more than 80 per cent of the 75 instances last year. Thames Water accounted for 33 incidents, Southern Water 15 and Yorkshire Water 13, the report said. Overall, the number of serious pollution incidents increased from 47 in 2023. Several of the incidents are said to have affected swimming spots and protected waters. Serious incidents are defined as having a major or significant impact on the environment. Total pollution incidents, including those with a lower environmental impact, also increased by 29 per cent to 2,801 last year. The EA said there had been ' consistently poor performance ' across all nine of the water and wastewater firms in England. According to the report, reasons behind the latest results include persistent underinvestment in new infrastructure, poor asset maintenance, and reduced resilience due to the impacts of climate change. Alan Lovell, chair of the EA, said: 'This report demonstrates continued systemic failure by some companies to meet their environmental targets. The water industry must act urgently to prevent pollution from occurring and to respond rapidly when it does.' A hosepipe ban is already in force for Yorkshire Water's five million customers and 1.1 million of Thames Water's customers while Southern Water's will start for 935,000 customers in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight on Monday. South East Water has also introduced a ban for 1.4 million people in Kent and Sussex from this morning. Last month, a review by the Independent Water Commission identified 'deep-rooted, systemic' failures in the water sector. It said the ailing sector needed a fundamental reform of laws, regulation and infrastructure. Britain's biggest water company Thames Water is again facing the spectre of temporary nationalisation after private equity firm KKR pulled out of plans for a £3 billion bailout.
