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Serious water pollution incidents up 60% last year, watchdog reveals
ENGLAND, JUL 18 – Three water companies caused 81% of serious pollution incidents in England, with total pollution events rising 29% due to underinvestment and poor infrastructure maintenance, the Environment Agency said.
- Water companies in England recorded 2,801 pollution incidents in 2024, a 29% rise from 2,174 incidents in 2023, including 75 serious events.
- The rise resulted from underinvestment, weak regulation, poor maintenance, and increased rainfall possibly overwhelming infrastructure.
- Thames Water, Southern Water, and Yorkshire Water caused 81% of serious incidents, with Thames Water's serious events doubling from 14 to 33 last year.
- Steve Reed, the Environment Secretary, condemned the statistics as "disgraceful" and emphasized a historic £104 billion investment alongside regulatory measures such as the Water Act aimed at addressing pollution and strengthening water industry oversight.
- Despite tighter regulation and over 4,000 inspections uncovering breaches at 24% of sites, the Environment Agency said systemic failures continue and urgent industry action is needed.
32 Articles
32 Articles
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‘A complete disgrace’, water pollution in England soars
Serious pollution incidents caused by water companies in England soared by 60% in a year – according to latest figures from the Environment Agency. MPs from the Public Accounts Committee condemned the pollution levels as ‘woeful’, and called for an overhaul of the entire regulation system. On Monday a major review of the water industry is due to be published, and reports suggest the Government could abolish the much-criticised regulator Ofwat as…
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