The Government will invest over £100 million in fines and penalties levied against water companies since October 2023 (as well as future fines and penalties) into local projects across the country to clean up rivers, lakes and seas.
The money will be reinvested into projects to clean up our waters which could include local programmes to address pollution and improve water quality.
When water companies breach their environmental permits – for example by releasing excessive pollution into a river – that is a criminal offence. The most serious cases, like illegal sewage spills, can see water company fines issued and criminal prosecutions for water company chiefs.
A total of 81 criminal investigations have been launched into water companies under this government as part of a new operation spearheaded by Environment Secretary Steve Reed.
Secretary of State Steve Reed said:
“We inherited a broken water system with record levels of sewage being pumped into waters.
“But the era of profiting from failure is over. A record 81 criminal investigations have been launched into water companies under this government and Ofwat recently announced the largest fine ever handed to a water company in history.
“This Government will invest money collected through fines into local projects to clean up our rivers, lakes and seas for good.”
More detail on the projects and programmes that this funding will go towards will be set out in due course.
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