Water pollution incidents in England at a ten-year high

The number of pollution incidents involving water companies in England is at a ten-year high. Data from the Environment Agency show over 2000 such incidents recorded last year, a 31% increase on 2016 levels. The data were released by environmental organisation Surfers Against Sewage after a Freedom of Information request. Giles Bristow, CEO of the organisation, said the data reveal that the water industry is failing in addressing the pollution issue, requiring a broader reform of the system to safeguard public health and consumers’ finances. Eight years ago, the Environment Agency remarked that the water sector was not doing enough to reduce pollution incidents, causing “distress to local communities” and significant environmental damage. At the time, it set a target to reduce the incidents by 40% by 2025. The last data show a complete failure of this initiative, with the number of incidents more than double the agency’s original target.
Reacting to the data release, Water UK, the industry body representing the country’s water and sewage companies, acknowledged that the system is not working and promised to invest £12 billion to almost halve spills by 2030. Most of this investment should come from increases to water bills, which started to take effect this month. However, these rises do not include inflation, which means consumers will pay higher bills than those stipulated by the industry with regulator Ofwat. Meanwhile, the Water Commission, an independent review body set up by the government, will look at different and more effective ways to regulate the water industry. Chairman Sir Jon Cunliffe is inviting submissions from the public until next week.