Serious water pollution incidents up 60% in England, Environment Agency says

Pollution Incidents by Water Companies Rise Sharply, Spark National Outcry

Serious pollution incidents caused by water companies in England surged by 60% in 2024, according to new figures from the Environment Agency. In total, 2,801 pollution events were recorded—the highest on record—up from 2,174 in 2023. Among these, 75 incidents were classified as causing “serious or persistent” harm to fisheries, drinking water, and public health, a sharp rise from 47 the previous year.

The surge has drawn fierce criticism from MPs and environmental groups. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC), a cross-party group of MPs, described the pollution levels as “woeful” and accused regulators of being “missing in action” in holding companies accountable.

Environment Secretary Steve Reed called the figures “disgraceful,” blaming them on years of underinvestment and weak regulation. He said the situation has led to “record levels of sewage polluting our rivers.”

Industry body Water UK acknowledged poor performance by several companies and admitted that underinvestment in infrastructure and maintenance is a primary cause of the crisis.

Targets Missed, Rules Broken

The water industry had been tasked with reducing pollution incidents by 40% by 2025 compared to 2016 levels. However, the 2024 figures show pollution levels are now more than double the target set by the Environment Agency.

Most of the worst incidents were traced to three companies:

• Thames Water – 33 serious incidents
• Southern Water – 15 incidents
• Yorkshire Water – 13 incidents

Thames Water, the worst offender, saw serious pollution cases double and also performed poorly in reporting these incidents to regulators.

River Action CEO James Wallace described the data as exposing a “brutal truth,” adding that the country’s rivers are on the brink of ecological collapse. He called for Thames Water to be placed into special administration.

Regulatory System Under Fire

Inspections by the Environment Agency revealed that nearly 25% of sites were breaching environmental permits. Despite last year’s higher rainfall—an issue in England’s combined sewer systems—serious discharges still represent a breach of legal obligations.

Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, head of the PAC, said regulators like the Environment Agency and Ofwat have failed to hold companies to account and are overwhelmed by the scale of violations.

“The government must strengthen the regulators and give them the power and support they need,” he urged.

The Committee found that decades of failure to ensure companies maintain critical infrastructure have led to widespread pollution. At current investment rates, it would take 700 years to replace England’s water mains.

Who Pays? The Investment Debate

Water UK argued that much of the infrastructure failure stems from Ofwat’s refusal to approve higher water bills, which has limited the industry’s ability to invest.

However, Sir Geoffrey disagreed, saying the water companies have prioritized paying investors and servicing debt over improving infrastructure. “Customers are now bearing the cost of years of mismanagement,” he said.

The sector is now set for a record £104 billion investment over the next five years, but this will come at a cost: average water bills are expected to rise by £123 annually, and up to £224 for Southern Water customers.

What’s Next?

A major review led by Sir John Cunliffe, head of the Water Commission, is due to be published on Monday. In preliminary findings, Cunliffe echoed the PAC’s concerns, citing “deep-rooted, systemic and interlocking failures.” He was particularly critical of regulators such as the Environment Agency, Defra, and Ofwat for failing to provide effective oversight.

“We need regulators that are proactive—monitoring water companies as we do banks—so they can both intervene early and support improvements,” Cunliffe said.

His full report is expected to include proposals for major reform or even an overhaul of the regulatory system to restore accountability and protect the environment.

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