The UK government is taking significant steps to hold water companies accountable by quadrupling the number of inspections, according to a recent announcement
This action is part of the Plan for Water, which aims to crack down on underperforming water companies and address environmental concerns.
Boost in inspections and enforcement
The Environment Agency (EA) is set to increase its inspections on water company assets from the current 930 inspections to 4,000 by March 2025, and to 10,000 by April 2026.
This escalation includes more unannounced water company inspections to ensure compliance and reduce the reliance on self-monitoring by water companies, a practice established in 2009. This initiative will be supported by up to 500 additional staff dedicated to inspections and enforcement over the next three years, with recruitment already in progress.
Funding and support
The increased water company inspections and regulatory efforts will be backed by an annual budget of around £55 million. This funding will come from an increased grant-in-aid from the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) and additional charges from water quality permits levied on water companies. A public consultation on this funding approach is currently underway and will close in March 2024.
With all 15,000 overflows now monitored, the EA will use data-driven analytics to map discharges against rainfall. This approach will enable the agency to quickly direct new specialist officers to sites at risk, identify non-compliance, and take quick action.
Ongoing efforts and achievements
The EA is already conducting the largest-ever criminal investigation into potential widespread non-compliance by water and sewerage companies at thousands of sewage treatment works. Since 2015, the EA has secured over £150 million in fines through 59 prosecutions against water companies.
Recent government initiatives to improve the water environment include:
- Monitoring 100% of storm overflows in England.
- Removing the cap on civil penalties for water companies.
- Expanding protections for coastal and estuarine waters.
- Requiring a £60 billion infrastructure program over 25 years to modernise assets and reduce sewage spills.
- Supporting farmers with £10 million in Water Management Grants.
- Accelerating the construction of water supply infrastructure.
These measures aim to ensure a cleaner, safer water environment for all.
