Water firms under pressure as serious pollution cases up 60%

ENGLAND'S embattled water companies have chalked up their worst environmental performance on record, with serious pollution incidents up 60% last year.

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England's water firms chalked up their worst environmental performance on record in 2024

(CHRISTOPHER FURLONG/ GETTY IMAGES)

The Environment Agency called for a fundamental shift in culture and behaviour from English water firms in the light of “poor” results across the sector.

The regulator, which rates water firms annually on a one to four star basis, said only Severn Trent scored the top four-star rating on its performance in areas including pollution, sewage and improving the environment.

Overall, the nine companies collectively achieved just 19 stars out of a possible 36 in 2024, down from the 25 in 2023 and the lowest since the process started in 2011.