In a landmark move to combat water pollution across the UK, the government has introduced the Water (Special Measures) Bill to Parliament. This legislation marks the most significant step in increasing enforcement powers over water companies in more than a decade, addressing the pollution of rivers, lakes, and seas throughout the country.
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs, Steve Reed, is expected to detail this transformative plan during a speech at Thames Rowing Club on Thursday, September 5th. Representatives from the water industry, investors, environmental groups, and campaigners are among those attending.
The bill outlines several key provisions, including:
- Enhanced criminal prosecution powers: The Environment Agency will now have greater authority to prosecute water executives who break the law, with potential jail time for obstructing investigations.
- Ban on executive bonuses: Water company leaders will no longer receive bonuses if they fail to meet high standards in environmental protection, customer service, and financial management.
- Automatic fines: Severe and automatic penalties will be imposed for various offences, enabling regulators to issue fines swiftly without the need for lengthy investigations.
- Mandatory monitoring: Water companies will be required to install independent monitoring systems on every sewage outlet and provide real-time data on emergency overflows within an hour of occurrence.
Reed emphasized the importance of the new legislation, stating, “The public is furious that in 21st-century Britain, record levels of sewage are being pumped into our rivers, lakes, and seas. After years of neglect, our waterways are in an unacceptable state.”
The bill also includes requirements for water companies to publish annual Pollution Incident Reduction Plans, part of a broader effort to modernize the water sector and expedite infrastructure upgrades.
As the bill moves through Parliament, it is expected to result in a significant shift in how water companies are held accountable for their environmental responsibilities across the United Kingdom.
