Minister to Charge Water Executives for Repeated Sewage Dumping, Bonus Ban Imposed
Environment Secretary Steve Reed has announced that he will be implementing new legislation to strengthen regulators’ ability to hold water bosses accountable.
The new laws are aimed at penalizing water bosses responsible for repeated illegal sewage dumping, who will face criminal charges and lose their bonuses.
Speaking to the BBC, Mr. Reed emphasized the need to crack down on persistent, severe levels of illegal sewage dumping by holding water bosses criminally responsible.
Thames Water, the UK’s largest water company, has been under scrutiny for pumping raw sewage into waterways and accumulating over £15 billion in debt. The company has reassured customers that there is no immediate threat to water supply.
In addition to these measures, the government has introduced reforms to the water sector, including increased consumer power, stricter penalties for companies failing to meet standards, and changes to governing rules prioritizing customer and environmental interests.
Overall, the government aims to ensure accountability and transparency within the water industry to protect the environment and consumer interests.