Pollution Most-serious incidents in England up by 60%

The number of serious pollution incidents involving English water companies rose 60% last year compared with the year before that, Environment Agency data shows.

- Helena Horton

Incidents classed as "serious" are the most environmentally damaging and indicate that the spilt sewage or other pollutant is expected to have a serious, extensive or persistent impact on the environment, people or property. Such incidents could, for example, result in mass fish deaths in rivers.

The total number of serious pollution incidents in 2024 was 75, up from 47 in 2023. Of these, 81% (61) were caused by three companies: Thames Water (33), Southern Water (15) and Yorkshire Water (13). Thames Water's serious incidents more than doubled from 14 to 33.

James Wallace, the chief executive of the campaign group River Action, said Thames Water "should be put into special administration to start the reset".

He added: "We need the prime minister and chancellor to empower and fund the environment secretary to end pollution for profit and enforce the law, backed by a credible plan to rebuild public trust.

"These figures expose a brutal truth: serious pollution incidents are rising, sewage discharges remain rampant, and our rivers are spiraling toward ecological collapse. This is not just regulatory failure; it is a national disgrace."