CIEH welcomes Ofwat enforcement action against all water companies over sewage pollution

CIEH welcome Ofwat’s enforcement action against all 11 water and wastewater companies in England and Wales over sewage pollution but urge greater action from the Government to protect the UK’s water quality.   

The regulator has been investigating several water companies over suspicions of widespread sewage discharges for two years. These recent announcements to include four more water companies, including Severn Trent and United Utilities, now ensures that every water firm in England and Wales is under investigation.    

The recently announced Water (Special Measures) Bill will seek to strengthen Ofwat’s power to drive accountable action by introducing criminal liability charges, automatic and severe fines and the ability to ban the payment of bonuses if environmental standards are not met by water companies.    

This bill will also assist Ofwat’s current investigation by requiring water companies to install real-time monitors at every sewage outlet, with the data then independently scrutinized by the water regulator.   

CIEH support the introduction of tougher enforcement action and welcome these enhanced regulatory powers but urge the new Labour government to tackle the root cause of the UK’s water pollution. Despite its severity on public health, sewage pollution has continued to rise with the amount of raw sewage being discharged into our rivers totalling 3.6 million hours in 2023, more than double that of 2022. Beyond the immediate impacts on public health, sewage pollution is interlinked with the climate emergency, directly contributing to emission of potent greenhouse gases and disrupting the regulation of the UK’s climate.  

Water pollution remains a significant problem due to a lack of water companies’ accountability but also wider systematic issues from misconnected plumbing systems, to ageing sewage infrastructure which has not seen adequate investment.  

Therefore, to urgently and adequately tackle sewage pollution, CIEH urge the new Government to introduce further legislation to fundamentally transform the UK’s aging sewage treatment and drainage infrastructure.  

Mark Elliot, President of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, said:

“CIEH mirror Ofwat’s concern about the water sector’s environmental performance and welcome the recent enforcement action and enhanced powers of the regulator to tackle sewage pollution.  

However, while the investigation continues, there remains a clear need to tackle the urgent public health risk posed by polluted water, through for example, real-time water quality monitors which are being installed at wild swimming spots and beaches across southern England to help people assess their immediate risk of getting ill from water pollution.  

Sewage pollution releases plastic particles, microbial pollutants and traces of medications into our food and water systems, posing a severe risk for public health. With the 60% rise of waterborne diseases since 2010, CIEH welcomes the commitment for greater enforcement powers and urges the Government to now focus on transforming the UK’s water infrastructure.”