Ofwat, Britain’s water industry regulator for the last 34 years has (eventually) opened enforcement action to investigate all 11 companies in the English and Welsh water industry on sewage.
The ‘watchdog’ said it analysis of the groups’ environmental performance and data raised concerns the companies ‘may not be fulfilling their obligations to protect the environment and minimise pollution’…. Something we have all known since about 1990.
David Black, Ofwat’s chief executive, said: ‘The fact that Ofwat now has enforcement cases with all 11 of the wastewater companies in England and Wales demonstrates how concerned we are about the sector’s environmental performance.
‘Where we find that companies have breached their obligations, we will continue to act – over recent years, we have imposed penalties and payments of over £300million on water and wastewater companies.
‘This is the largest and most complex investigation Ofwat has undertaken. However, Ofwat is committed to concluding these cases as quickly as possible.’
Water companies have paid huge dividends to shareholders and bonuses to executives for years while under investing in the sewage system, and sewage pollution of rivers, lakes and the ocean is now a huge public concern.
Despite this Ofwat have told water companies they can fund the investment by increasing household water bills by an average of £94 over the five-year period, excluding inflation. water companies’ business plans had proposed £144.
Campaigner Feargal Sharkey responded…
“As of today every single sewage company in England and Wales is under investigation as part of the “largest ever criminal investigation”, into “widespread non-compliance”. What the hell has @Ofwat and @EnvAgency been doing the last 33 years?”
SAS stated
“The system is broken, we are calling for a full public enquiry, it is clear that we need root and branch change to end the sewage crisis once and for all. “
The new issue is incoming and it is pretty jammed with stories to get you stoked!!
This issue features the best of British and Irish surfing in our annual The 2024 dryrobe x Carve photo of the year comp! We also meet Yorkshire photographer and ultimate van lifer Lara Waves, Mark Vaughan catches up with Britain’s rising star Lukas Skinner, William Finnegan on the gritty reality of Hawaii through the lens of Olaf Heine. We have a foray into the amazing life of photographer Al Mackinnon, the Croyde crew score in the Banyaks and spur of the moment decision results in a trip of a lifetime in the Mentawais.
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