New law targets waterway pollution

New law targets waterway pollution

The Water (Special Measures) Bill has introduced tough new powers that will allow regulators to take tougher, faster action to crack down on water company bosses who damage the environment and fail their customers.

The Bill delivers on the manifesto pledges to clean up the water sector, including significantly increasing the ability of the Environment Agency to bring forward criminal charges against law-breaking water executives. It will create new tougher penalties, including imprisonment, for water executives when companies fail to co-operate or obstruct investigations.

Welcoming the new legislation Amanda Hack said:

“Sewage dumping in our waterways has been out of control for far too long. The River Sence, along with several local brooks and streams, has been severely impacted over the past 14 years, and this must change quickly.  

These new powers will equip OFWAT and other regulators with the means to challenge Severn Trent Water, which has permitted this toxic waste to flow for far too long. During the general election, I committed to improving our waterways, and this legislation will help to uphold that promise. 

This is just a first step to transforming how the water industry is run. We will soon outline further legislation to speed up the delivery of upgrades to our sewage infrastructure to clean up our waterways for good.”