Water companies’ pollution incidents in England increased by 30% in 2024. The sector, which had been set a target to reduce spillages by 40%, needs ‘radical reform’, campaigners say.
Water companies have missed their targets to reduce pollution with 2,487 incidents recorded in 2024 – twice the limit set by the Environment Agency. Data revealed under freedom of information law shows the companies were collectively set an Environment Agency target of a 40% reduction in pollution incidents, but instead recorded a 30% increase. The number of pollution incidents in 2024 was the highest in a decade.
Labour MP Prem Sikka, Emeritus Professor of Accounting and member of the UK House of Lords, comments on BlueSky:
Water companies’ pollution incidents in England increased by 30% in 2024. Customer bills hiked. Shareholders extracted £1.2bn in 2023-24. Industry controlled by organisations with criminal records. No director prosecuted. Nothing will change until profit motive is removed. Nationalise.
