The annual report rates each company in
It found that:
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* Thames,
* Anglian, Northumbrian and
* Southern Water is the first company to be rated as1 star (poor) since 2015
While the number of serious water quality pollution incidents from water company sewerage and clean water assets has plateaued - with a slight improvement to 52 compared to 56 in 2018 - the total number of pollution incidents has increased.
In light of these results, both the Environment Secretary
Other action being taken includes:
* Pollution Incident Reduction Plans (PIRPs) - The EA has requested all water companies develop, publish and implement specific plans to reduce the pollution incidents by the end of this year, which the EA can scrutinise and monitor, challenging companies where needed to ensure they deliver.
* Penalties and prosecutions - The EA has brought 44 prosecutions against water companies in the last five years, securing fines of £34 million. £7.9 million has also been donated to environmental and wildlife trusts organisations in the same period through enforcement undertakings, a voluntary agreement which will include a donation to environmental charities to restore any harm done. The EA will also continue to prosecute water companies which fail to uphold the law or cause serious environmental harm.
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We cannot transform water quality in the way we all want if water companies' environmental performance continues to backslide.
I will be meeting water company chairs in the coming weeks to make it clear that we expect much more. This includes developing, publishing and implementing specific plans by the end of this year to reduce pollution incidents. We will closely follow the delivery of these plans and will apply tough regulation to ensure companies stick by them.
Environment Secretary
Water companies have a responsibility to act as custodians of the environment and this report for 2019 shows that some are failing to take their obligations seriously. That is not good enough.
We have the rightly ambitious target in our 25 Year Environment Plan to bring at least three quarters of our waters as close as possible to their natural state as soon as possible and are bringing forward a legally binding target on water quality in the Environment Bill. Our new Environmental Land Management scheme - replacing the EU CAP scheme - will also play a critical part in reducing some of the farming practices which pollute our waters.
Certain water companies must step up and do better, which is why I will be meeting those who are falling short of our expectations to discuss how we can work together to drive better performance.
Environment Minister
No water company should need reminding that consumers see protecting the environment as a vital part of the water industry's day job and not treated like an optional extra. Whenever a water company pollutes a river, stream or the sea it damages not just the environment but the trust of its customers who pay it in good faith to protect it.
We want to see all water companies keeping their customers regularly informed of their plans and progress in reducing pollution incidents.
Protecting and improving our natural waters enhances the environment we live in as well as improving and managing the catchments for our drinking water. The combined benefit of protecting the environment ultimately reduces risks to our drinking water resources and minimises the energy and chemicals we need to expend in treatment, securing a better future for all.
I encourage companies to improve environmental performance thereby enhancing the wider synergies of water supply.
We expect companies to deliver more for customers, society and the environment, so we are disappointed to see an increase in the number of pollution incidents.
At the same time it is good to see two companies,
We all have our part to play, and we will continue to work with government,
The full report is available on .gov.uk
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(C) 2020 M2 COMMUNICATIONS, source