The Environment Agency (EA) found that 75 serious pollution incidents took place in 2024 – up from 47 in 2023. It condemned the rise as a “systemic failure” by water firms to meet their environmental targets.
This comes just days after the firm, which serves 16 million customers across Greater London and south-east England, reported a £1.6bn loss and warned it could collapse into temporary nationalisation if it does not imminently agree on a rescue plan with its creditors.
Yorkshire Water, which serves 5.7 million customers, reported 13 incidents in 2024 – a rise from just 5 in 2023.
The 75 serious water pollution incidents were classified as either category one and two, meaning they had a “major” or “significant” impact on human health, quality of life or the environment.
Anglian Water, which has over six million customers across the east of England and Hartlepool, reported the largest decrease in serious pollution incidents, from 11 in 2023 to 7 in 2024.
Meanwhile, Wessex Water, which has nearly 3 million customers in the South West, reported zero incidents in 2024 after causing just one in 2023.
Cat Hobbs, founder of the We Own It campaign group, said: “These shocking figures on serious pollution incidents are the latest indicator of a water sector in total chaos.”
“Market competition just doesn’t work in a sector where so-called customers can’t vote with their feet and switch suppliers.”
A spokesperson for industry representative Water UK acknowledged that the “performance of some companies is not good enough”, vowing that £104bn will be invested over the next 5 years to “secure our water supplies, support economic growth and end sewage entering our rivers and seas”.
The spills’ duration increased slightly from 3.606 million hours in 2023 to 3.614 million hours in 2024.
The i Paper’s Save Britain’s Rivers campaign, which has called on ministers to reform the water regulators, hailed a major success on Friday after plans were announced to scrap the industry’s economic regulator, Ofwat.
square NEWS Save Britain's RiversFailing water regulator Ofwat scrapped after spike in worst sewage spills
Read More
A Water UK spokesperson said: “While there have been some improvements it is clear that the performance of some companies is not good enough. The EA is right to highlight underinvestment in infrastructure and maintenance as the major causes of these results.
“This is finally being put right, with a record £104bn investment over the next 5 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.”
Hence then, the article about how often your water company dumps sewage in waterways was published today ( ) and is available on inews ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( How often your water company dumps sewage in waterways )
Also on site :