Campaigners have slammed water companies whose “hazardous” sewage discharges have made entering the nation’s rivers for repairs unsafe.
Locals have warned some maintenance has been delayed at a critical time of the year, sparking concerns about flash flooding.
James Wallace, CEO of River Action, said: “Bank repairs are essential to mitigate the impacts of floods to protect communities and infrastructure from the intensifying impacts of climate change and population expansion.
“But sewage releases from water companies can make these repairs hazardous. Therefore, not only are failing water companies incapable of maintaining their own infrastructure, their malpractice and lack of investment hampers the ability of others to maintain and protect rivers.”
Spills of raw sewage into England’s rivers and seas reached their worst on record last year.
Discharges of untreated sewage by water companies doubled from 1.8 million hours in 2022 to a record 3.6 million in 2023, according to new Environment Agency data
The Government is bringing in measures to strengthen regulation of the water industry as it attempts to answer public anger over sewage polluting rivers, lakes and seas.
The Water (Special Measures) Bill announced in the King’s Speech includes regulations to make water company bosses face personal criminal liability for breaking laws on water quality, and new powers for regulator Ofwat to ban the payment of bonuses if environmental standards are not met.
It also establishes a new code of conduct for water companies, allowing customers to summon board members and hold executives to account, and will introduce new powers to bring “automatic and severe” fines for transgressions.
And it requires water companies to install real-time monitors at every sewage outlet with data independently scrutinised by the water regulators – although the government announced last year that all of England’s storm overflows are electronically monitored.
Mr Wallace said: “It is vital now that the Government delivers on its election promise to clean up the UK’s rivers and in doing so hold the water companies accountable for their failure to upgrade their creaking sewage and water works.
“We are pleased that the Government has committed to put in place a Water Bill which will strengthen regulation to ensure water bosses face personal criminal liability for lawbreaking, and look forward to hearing how they will reform the regulators to ensure the law is enforced and necessary investments made.”
A Water UK spokeswoman said: “No sewage spill is ever acceptable. This is why water companies have proposed £11 billion – a tripling on current levels – to end sewage entering our rivers and seas.
“We are ready to invest in an unprecedented overhaul of the country’s water and sewage infrastructure. Ofwat now needs to back these plans in full.”
