The UK government is set to introduce tougher pollution fines for water companies, which could lead to unlimited fines for polluting waterways. Environment Secretary, Therese Coffey, is expected to announce the new regulations next week, with the fines being put in a “water restoration fund”. The move comes after new figures revealed that water companies have failed to take any action to reduce pollution, despite discharges falling by a fifth in 2022.
However, opposition politicians have criticized the government for not doing enough to combat the issue. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has, in fact, claimed that «what the government has done to our rivers and beaches is turn them into open sewers». Meanwhile Sir Ed Davey, Liberal Democrats leader, has called for Ms. Coffey’s resignation, accusing her of presiding over a “national scandal”.
The new fines will be put into a “water restoration fund”, with the money being used to improve the quality of UK waterways. At present, penalties and fines imposed by water regulator Ofwat are returned to the Treasury, but under the new plans, money will be returned to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
Ms. Coffey’s measures also include a six-week consultation examining the possibility of strengthening the Environment Agency’s ability to impose sanctions without going through the courts. In fact, except for the most serious cases that will still be taken through criminal proceeding, other penalties shall be quicker and easier to enforce.
Campaigners have accused water companies of discharging sewage far more often than they should, including when there has been no rain, and have repeatedly called on water companies to use their profits to invest in more infrastructure.
Speaking about her plans, Ms. Coffey said: «I know how important our beautiful rivers, lakes, streams, and coastlines are for people and nature – and I couldn’t agree more that more needs to be done to protect them. I want to make sure that regulators have the powers and tools to take tough action against companies that are breaking the rules, and to do so more quickly».
The new fines could be a significant step towards protecting the UK’s waterways from pollution. With pressure mounting from campaigners and opposition politicians, it remains to be seen whether the government’s plans will be enough to address the issue adequately.