I know I had a grumble about the issues earlier this year, but reading the Environment Agency’s newly published annual report this week, on our water companies’ failings - and in particular with regard to sewage leaks, has got me all riled up again. For while the report shows an improvement in some ratings under the Environmental Performance Assessment system, the majority of companies have “continued to underperform” (now that’s an understatement if ever I heard one!). Bearing in mind that the Agency is employing more compliance inspectors, which means that the likelihood of fines for companies not making the grade has increased, I wonder just how dilapidated our supply and treatment facilities have become if those responsible for them haven’t managed to make the required improvements in order to avoid being taken to task. As I said previously, they shouldn’t be making the payouts to shareholders that they are, if money needs to be spent on upgrades – which it clearly does! 

  

The number of serious pollution incidents increased from 44 in 2022 to 47 in 2023, while total pollution incidents from sewerage and water supply assets increased to 2,174 - the second consecutive annual increase and highest number recorded since 2019. Further, compliance with numeric permit conditions for discharging treated wastewater isn’t improving, with 45 sites found to be non-compliant. It’s just not good enough, is it? 

  

Despite the huge numbers of sewerage pollution incidents recorded, since 2015 the Agency has only secured 63 prosecutions against water companies, securing fines of over £151 million. In 2023 the Agency concluded four prosecutions against four water companies, with fines of more than £6.7 million. It’s not the money we want though, is it? It’s clear, uncontaminated drinking water and sewage dealt with as it should be, rather than it being left to spoil our waterways and coastline, before spreading overseas. 

  

Only Severn Trent Water is doing the right thing by the general public. Anglian, Southern, Thames and Yorkshire have shown little or no sign of improvement. These companies have a responsibility not only to those of us living in the UK but to tourists visiting our shores and even those who never set foot here but who may perhaps be bathing in their own countries’ waters that have been contaminated by our sewage. What’s going on is unacceptable. 

  

The full report is available to read at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications