Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle is set to take action against water companies with tougher consequences for executives at persistently underperforming firms.
The government say this action is intended to shine a “harsh light” on serious incidents as ministers will visit a number of sites to interrogate companies’ responses.
The Environment Secretary will also assess options to strengthen the ban on bonuses for bosses.
It follows the first ever joint report from the Environment Agency (EA), Natural Resources Wales, the Drinking Water Inspectorate and Ofwat, which showed an inconsistent performance rate throughout the industry.
There were six ‘Category 1’ incidents in 2025, to which the EA prioritises visits. In addition the EA will set out a set of improvement actions for each water company including tackling leakage from pipes, reducing pollution incidents and improving customer satisfaction scores.
Dame Angela Eagle said: “Water companies have let the public down time and time again, and today’s report is further proof that root-and-branch reform cannot wait.
“People are sick of excuses. They want clean rivers, lakes and seas, and the certainty that every pound they pay is being invested wisely, not wasted.”
The government say that “nothing is off the table” when it comes to punishing poorly performing companies and regulators say they will not hesitate to use the full range of enforcement powers available, including fines and prosecutions.
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