The Environment Agency has recently released its annual report on the environmental performance of England’s nine water and sewerage companies, rating each company in England from 1 star to 4 star. The rating takes into account performance on environmental commitments such as pollution incidents and treatment work compliance. Here in Devizes, we are served by three of these: Southern Water, Thames Water and Wessex Water.
Unfortunately, Southern Water is the only of the three to have improved its performance, moving from 1 to 2 stars; Thames and Wessex remained consistent with their 2 stars. Here is the breakdown from across the country (clearly there is more to do):
WATER COMPANY
2021 (yr 1) 2022 (yr 2)
Severn Trent Water
4 stars 4 stars
Northumbrian Water
4 stars 3 stars
United Utilities
4 stars 3 stars
Yorkshire Water
2 stars 3 stars
Anglian Water
2 stars 2 stars
Thames Water
2 stars 2 stars
Wessex Water
2 stars 2 stars
Southern Water
1 star 2 stars
South West Water
1 star 2 stars
Some of the headlines from the report:
- Serious pollution incidents fell by 30%, from 62 in 2021 to 44 in 2022.
- Levels of self-reporting of pollution incidents increased to 82%, the highest since the start of the EPA in 2011.
- Discharge permit compliance improved to 99.0% of sewerage treatment works and waste treatment works were compliant in 2022. This continues the trend toward 100% compliance (a legal obligation since 2020).
- All water companies performed better than target for satisfactory sludge use and disposal, and 5 water companies (Northumbrian Water, Severn Trent Water, Southern Water, Thames Water and Wessex Water) reported 100% satisfactory sludge use and disposal.
However, the report also, unsurprisingly, found that total pollution incidents were still too high. Self-reporting on serious incidents was only 48%, and more than half of serious pollution incidents were from Anglian Water and Thames Water assets – the Government has taken enforcement action against both companies. The Government recognises that there is still significant work to drive the improvements in our rivers and seas that we need to see. The Plan for Water will deliver these improvements through more investment, stronger regulations and tougher enforcement. As part of this plan, the Government has announced the removal of the cap on the penalties that can be imposed on water companies - they can now be fined millions of pounds, as one recently was.
I will continue to work with local groups and the Government to make sure we clean up our waterways. They are a precious asset to this country and our area in particular.
