Ofwat CEO David Black has written to the regulated water and wastewater companies warning them that Ofwat’s board is “deeply concerned that, generally, companies have not taken sufficient action to respond to the measures we have taken to date.”

The Marine Conservation Society has announced that it is taking legal action against the UK Government as a result of what it describes as “their failure to address the sewage pollution scandal facing English shores.”

The Environment Agency has reported that 97.1% of bathing waters in England have passed required water quality standards - new statistics released by the EA yesterday show that the number of designated bathing waters meeting the highest quality standard is the most since 2015.

The Government has today confirmed that money from fines handed out to water companies for polluting rivers and seas will be re-invested in schemes that benefit the natural environment.

The House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee has today written to Sir James Bevan, Chief Executive of the Environment Agency over concerns raised in the media recently about the reduction in sewage inspections.

Water companies will face the strictest targets on pollution from sewage ever under a new plan to tackle sewage discharges in waters published by the Government today.

Thames Water will have to return £51 million to its customers and Southern Water almost £30 million after missing key performance targets.

The Liberal Democrats are calling for water sector regulator Ofwat to be replaced by a “tough new independent regulator” following ongoing widespread criticism of sewage discharges into Britain’s rivers.