Water firms face a record £168m combined fine for sewage spills
The water regulator said it has uncovered a 'catalogue of failure' resulting in 'harm to the environment'
Thames Water, Yorkshire Water and Northumbrian Water face £168m fines by the industry regulator over historic sewage spills (Photo: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire)
Three of England’s biggest water companies have been handed £168m of fines by the industry regulator, following the discovery of a “catalogue of failure” and “excessive spills”.
Ofwat proposed the fines for Thames Water, Yorkshire Water and Northumbrian Water for historic sewage spills. The proposal will now go to public consultation.
Ofwat found that the three water companies had failed to adequately invest in and maintain their networks, meaning sewage was repeatedly released into the country’s waterways.
On Tuesday, Ofwat said the firms “failed to ensure that discharges of untreated wastewater from storm overflows occur only in exceptional circumstances, which has resulted in harm to the environment and their customers”.
It added that there was a “strong correlation” between high spill levels and operational issues at their wastewater treatment sites, “which points to these companies not having properly operated and maintained their wastewater treatment works”.
The regulator’s chief executive David Black said: “Ofwat has uncovered a catalogue of failure by Thames Water, Yorkshire Water and Northumbrian Water in how they ran their sewage works and this resulted in excessive spills from storm overflows.
“Our investigation has shown how they routinely released sewage into our rivers and seas, rather than ensuring that this only happens in exceptional circumstances as the law intends.”
Mr Black said that the size of the penalties doled out to firms was a signal of “both the severity of the failings and our determination to take action to ensure water companies do more to deliver cleaner rivers and seas”.
Doug Parr, Greenpeace UK’s director of policy, said: “It’s good to see this rogue industry finally paying the price for years of pollution. But it is our rivers, seas and everyone who enjoys them that pay the real penalty, with added interest for every year this abuse is allowed to continue.
“Our watercourses and the ecosystems that rely on them are in desperate need of protection and there is huge public support for this. It is now vital that Ofwat bring in a full ban on shareholder dividends and bonuses for these serial polluters.”
Steve Reed, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, said he welcomed the action by Ofwat to impose fines on the firms.
i is calling on all the political parties to sign up to its manifesto to Save Britain’s Rivers
#1. RIVER HEALTH: 77% rivers in good health by 2027
Current situation: England’s rivers were once havens of biodiversity, but the vast majority are now struggling to support healthy ecosystems of plants and wildlife. Just 14 per cent of rivers in England are currently in good ecological health and not a single river has achieved good chemical health. The Government has set a legal target that 77 per cent will achieve good ecological status by 2027 – but without urgent action this will not happen.
Target: Within its first six months in power, the new Government will publish a roadmap on how it is going to achieve this existing legal target, and its long-awaited chemical strategy. The plan must include increased funding for the Environment Agency so the watchdog can do its job – and enforce the law.
#2. SEWAGE: Sewage spills will not damage high-priority areas – including bathing spots and nature sites – by 2030
Current situation: Bathing waters and nature sites are being destroyed by sewage spills, but water companies will not be required to clean up all these spaces until 2045.
Target: Untreated sewage will not cause damage to high-priority sites (which are bathing spots, protected nature sites, National Parks and chalk streams) by 2030. Water companies who fail to meet this target will be prosecuted. Nature-based solutions will be used to clean up sewage wherever possible.
#3. WATCHDOG: Regulators will stop water companies destroying the environment in pursuit of profit
Current situation: Water companies have paid their investors healthy dividends while failing to invest enough in their infrastructure to prevent environmental harm. This is partly caused by a disjointed regulatory system that prioritises economic outcomes over the environment.
Target: Within its first year in power, the new Government will publish a plan to reform regulation of water companies. This plan must be legislated on and executed within the first term of Parliament. This will include tougher powers to restrict dividends and bonuses for underperforming water companies, alongside greater resources to pursue prosecution. A “green duty” will be placed on Ofwat, which will force the regulator to place greater emphasis on the environment when making decisions over water companies’ business plans.
#4. BATHING: Create 100 clean bathing spots in rivers by 2030
Current situation: People in the UK have discovered the joy of wild swimming. But there are only 15 official bathing spots in English rivers, and many are not safe.
Target: 100 bathing spots in English rivers by the end of the new parliamentary term. The Environment Agency must start monitoring water quality throughout the year and take action to improve water quality at these sites. Bathing regulations will be altered so polluters can be prosecuted when bathing sites fail water quality tests.
#5. FARMING: Farmers must be funded to improve water quality, and face enforcement action if they damage the environment
Current situation: Agriculture is the biggest source of pollution in many rivers, but many farmers warn they are struggling to make ends meet under post-Brexit farming subsidies. Meanwhile, the Environment Agency is failing to enforce farming water-quality regulations.
Target: Within its first year in power, the new Government will strengthen its Environmental Land Management scheme so farmers are given more grants, support and advice to undertake activities that will improve water quality. The Environment Agency will commit to a year-on-year increase in the number of farms being inspected – and take enforcement action against those who commit breaches of the “farming rules for water”.
