'Zero serious pollution incidents' for water firm

NORTHUMBRIAN Water is one of only two water companies in the UK to have reported no incidents of serious pollution in the last year, new figures show.

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The data released by the Environment Agency reveals that UK water companies recorded a total of 2,801 pollution incidents in 2024, up from 2,174 in the previous 12 months. That included 75 of the more serious 'category 1' incidents, up from 47 the previous year.

But just three water firms were responsible for 81% of these serious incidents - Thames Water with 33, Southern Water with 15, and Yorkshire Water with 13. Only Northumbrian Water and Wessex Water had no serious incidents last year, meeting the Environment Agency's expectations to see a trend to zero serious pollution incidents by 2025.

Northumbrian Water has now had three consecutive years of no serious pollution incidents, helping it to achieve the Environment Agency's WISER (Water industry strategic environmental requirements) performance level.