Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 17
17
Acknowledged
Water companies' environmental performance remains poor with increasing pollution and regulatory failures
Conclusion
We asked the witnesses about water companies’ current environmental performance. Ofwat and the EA are taking enforcement action against every wastewater company for their management of combined sewer overflows. Water quality pollution incidents have increased.47 WildFish highlighted failures in regulation in its written submission, while in its written submission the Office for Environmental Protection set out failures to comply with environmental law by Defra, the EA and Ofwat.48 The EA told us that the sector will be spending around £12 billion on storm overflows in the next five years, but this will only fix 44% of the overflows, and Defra acknowledged the work would be “long and expensive”.49 44 C&AG’s Report, paras 1.4, 2.8 45 Q 42 46 C&AG’s Report, para 14 47 C&AG’s Report, paras 1.3, 1.14 48 WSR0001, WSR0007 49 Q 105 14 As we reported in June 2025, mismanagement of wastewater and sewage is a serious public health concern and heightens the threat of anti-microbial resistance.50 The EA told us that the original deadline for meeting the Water Framework Directive had been 2015, and that work was being undertaken now because it had “run out of delay time”.51
Government Response Summary
The government recognises the concerns about water companies’ current environmental performance and is committed to holding water companies to account for their environmental performance, and is working to ensure that they are meeting their obligations to protect the environment.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The Government recognises the concerns about water companies’ current environmental performance. The EA and Ofwat are taking enforcement action against every wastewater company for their management of combined sewer overflows. The Government is committed to holding water companies to account for their environmental performance, and is working to ensure that they are meeting their obligations to protect the environment.