Water Companies Criticised Over ‘Unacceptable’ Number of Serious Pollution Incidents

The number of serious pollution incidents by England’s water and sewerage companies last year rose to “unacceptably high” levels, the Environment Agency has found. The regulator reported an increase from 44 incidents in 2022 to 47 in 2023. Over 90 percent of the pollution cases were caused by four companies: Anglian Water, Southern Water, Thames Water and Yorkshire Water. The chair of the Environment Agency, Alan Lovell, said the companies’ performance is “unacceptable.” “My overriding sense is one of frustration and disappointment. The results we see are, yet again, simply not good enough,” Mr. Lovell said. The industry has been under fire in the recent years over poor environmental performance and waste spills. Many water companies, including Thames Water and South East Water, have also been struggling financially, unable to secure new investments to stay in business....