"Serious" Pollution Releases From UK Water Companies Rose 60% YOY In 2024; Thames Water Doesn't Want To Be Fined

[hatrack]

Serious pollution incidents by water companies were up 60% last year compared with the year before, data has revealed. These incidents are the most environmentally damaging and indicate that the sewage spill or other pollution incident has a serious, extensive or persistent impact on the environment, people or property. They could, for example, result in mass fish deaths in rivers. The total number of serious pollution incidents in 2024 was 75, up from 47 in 2023, Environment Agency figures showed. Of these, 81% (61) were caused by three companies: Thames Water (33), Southern Water (15) and Yorkshire Water (13). Thames Water’s serious incidents more than doubled from 14 to 33.

The chief executive of River Action, James Wallace, said Thames Water “should be put into special administration to start the reset”. He said: “We need the prime minister and chancellor to empower and fund the environment secretary to end pollution for profit and enforce the law, backed by a credible plan to rebuild public trust. “These figures expose a brutal truth: serious pollution incidents are rising, sewage discharges remain rampant, and our rivers are spiraling toward ecological collapse. This is not just regulatory failure; it is a national disgrace.”

The total number of all pollution incidents in 2024 was 2,801, up 29% from 2,174 in 2023. Thames was again the worst polluter, responsible for 523 incidents, followed by Anglian Water (482), United Utilities (376), Southern Water (332), Severn Trent Water (300) and Wessex Water (248). Chris Weston, the chief executive of Thames Water, confirmed this week that Thames had asked to be let off fines. He told parliament’s environment, food and rural affairs committee on Monday that ministers and the regulators needed to have a “recognition of the reality of the situation”, namely that fines for polluting waterways with sewage cannot be paid at the same time as trying to turn around the company financially.

The report, which focuses specifically on serious incidents, is the latest blow after years of growing public anger over sewage leaks and the failure of England’s water companies to properly invest in their infrastructure. Alan Lovell, the chair of the Environment Agency, said: “This report demonstrates continued systemic failure by some companies to meet their environmental targets. “The water industry must act urgently to prevent pollution from occurring and to respond rapidly when it does.

EDIT

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/jul/18/serious-pollution-incidents-englands-water-companies-data

[riversedge]

1. There is nothing else to say except the Mother Earth is being killed by its people--slow but sure.