Four water companies fail to meet standards

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water pipe

Four out of nine water companies in England are falling short of expected standards, according to an annual report from the Environment Agency.

The report rates each company from 1 star to 4 stars, based on a range of measures including serious pollution incidents, pollution per km of sewer pipes and compliance with permits.

It found that:

  • Severn Trent and Wessex Water achieved the highest level of performance with 4 stars (industry leading);
  • Thames, United Utilities and Yorkshire Water are rated as 3 stars (good);
  • Anglian, Northumbrian and South West Water are rated as 2 stars (requiring improvement); and
  • Southern Water is the first company to be rated as 1 star (poor) since 2015.

The report highlighted the fact that, while the number of serious water quality pollution incidents from water company sewerage and clean water assets has plateaued — with a slight improvement to 52 compared to 56 in 2018 — the total number of pollution incidents has increased.

Environment Secretary George Eustice and the Chair of the Environment Agency, Emma Howard Boyd, will be holding meetings with all underperforming companies to discuss improving their poor performance.

The Environment Agency has also asked all water companies develop, publish and implement specific plans to reduce pollution incidents by the end of this year.

In the last five years the Agency has brought 44 prosecutions against water companies, resulting in fines of £34m. Additionally, £7.9m has been donated to environmental and wildlife organisations through enforcement undertakings to help restore the harm done.

 

 

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