The Consumer Council for Water is calling on the Government and Ofwat to make sure that money arising from fines on water companies is used for the benefit of consumers.
Ofwat last week ordered water and sewerage company, United Utilities, to pay an £8.5 million fine for breaches of regulations relating to trading arrangements with associate companies. Under current legislation, this penalty will be paid to the Treasury.
However, the Consumer Council for Water is pressing for future fines, where appropriate, to be given back to consumers.
Yve Buckland, Chair of the National Consumer Council for Water, said: “In monopoly businesses, it’s likely that results of breaches of regulations benefit shareholders and disadvantage consumers. Therefore consumers need to benefit from Ofwat’s action.
“We want to put a marker down to say that, in most instances, where a water company is fined, the money should go back to consumers in the most appropriate way for the circumstances and the region - and not go to the Treasury.”
With the UK government demanding a 50% reduction in storm overflow spills by 2029, the era of reactive management is over. Speaking in the House of Commons on 21 July 2025, then environment secretary Steve Reed said, “This Government will cut water companies’ sewage pollution in half by the end of the decade.”
ERG, the leading supplier of odour control systems and industrial gas cleaning & thermal systems, has been awarded the coveted King’s Award for Enterprise.
Welsh Water’s new artificial intelligence-driven tool, ORAI, has been shortlisted for three categories at the prestigious British Data Awards 2026 – underscoring the company’s commitment to using cutting-edge technology to deliver better outcome for customers.
Barhale has completed work on two separate Rapid Action Taskforce Spills projects it is carrying out for Severn Trent.
Hear how Scottish Water has completed its £235 million Ayrshire Glasgow Resilience Project - customers across Greater Glasgow, Ayrshire and East Renfrewshire will now benefit from a more secure and resilient water supply.
Hear how United Utilities is accelerating its investment to reduce spills from storm overflows across the Northwest.
Find out more about the remarkable career opportunities on offer at WSP - scroll down to watch the inspirational video.