‘National disgrace!’ Fury as serious water pollution rockets 60% | UK | News

The campaigns insisted that the number of serious pollution incidents caused by water companies in the UK increased by 60% in 2024 compared to the previous year. According to the Environmental Agency (EA), three water companies – Thames Water, Southern Water and Yorkshire Su – were responsible for 81% of serious events.

He was responsible for South Water 33 and Yorkshire Su for 15 for 15, 15. “So, in the last 12 months, rivers and organizers are dealing with pollution, sewage garbage and humiliating state of our rivers and beaches in the last 12 months?

“It is over. Nicekets, finger shaking, meaningless foot stamp, heads need to be rolled.”

EA transforms all pollution events from water companies into categories, category 1 (major) and category 2 (important) is the most serious, which may have a very negative effect on wildlife, ecosystems and swimmers. Last year, 75 categories 1 and 2 events were recorded from 47 serious incidents in the previous year.

James Wallace, CEO of River Action CEO, said: “These figures reveal a brutal truth: serious pollution events are rising, sewage discharge remains widespread and our rivers are moving towards ecological collapse. This is not just regulating inadequacy; a national disgrace.”

“On Monday, the Independent Water Commission should propose a full revision of water company financing and governance and regulatory reform to have the hope of terminating this crisis.

Only the two companies – Northumbrian Water and Wessex Water – there was no serious incident last year, and until 2025, the environmental agencies met the expectations of a tendency to see zero pollution events.

In general, the guard said that all pollution incidents increased by 29% and water companies recorded 2,801 from 2,174 in 2023.

Environmental Secretary Steve Reed said: “These figures remind you that the investment and weak arrangement that lasted for years leads to record levels of polluting our rivers.

“Within a year, this new government banned unjust bonuses to pollute the water bosses, imposed imprisonment for pollution, and kept £ 104 billion to raise the crumbled sewage pipes, one of the biggest infrastructure investments in history.”

EA said it was clear that some companies do not meet their goals.

Last year, the increase in events, the effects of climate change due to the new infrastructure, weak asset care and reduced flexibility attributed to inadequate investments.

However, it is understood that the agency has explored pollution and causes more closely in order to understand the great increase and to decide any action in Thames, which has doubled from 14 to 33 of the serious events.

“This report shows continuous systemic failure for some companies to meet their environmental targets.

“The water industry should act urgently to prevent pollution from occurring and to respond quickly when it occurs.

“We have made significant changes to tighten the regulation of the water industry and to ensure that companies are taken into account. With a larger labor and increasing financing, our officers reveal and move their failures to comply with environmental law.”

A Water UK spokesman said: “Although there are some improvements, it is clear that the performance of some companies is not good enough. The Environmental Agency emphasizes inadequate investments in infrastructure and care as the main reasons for these results. Investment in the sector, £ long -term investments, long -term investments, according to the long -term invoice. And the next 5 years to support the end of the sewer entering our rivers and seas.