Water companies in England in face harsher and quicker fines of up to £500,000 for sewage spills, the government has said.
Under the government’s new proposals, the Environment Agency will set a cap at either £350,000 or £500,000 for penalties issued to the civil standard and introduce automatic fines of up to £20,000 for some minor offences.
It is also proposing to use a lower civil standard of proof, instead of criminal, for minor to moderate environmental offences and introduce new automatic penalties – like a speeding ticket – for specific and obvious breaches without the need for lengthy investigations.
Currently, the Environment Agency struggles to impose financial penalties for frequent, minor and moderate offending – such as some breaches of a licence or a permit.
This is because it needs to prove an offence to the same high legal standard used in criminal courts – making penalties too expensive and time-consuming to pursue for less serious offences.
The government believes the changes would lower the standard of proof needed, making it much easier and quicker to hold water companies to account.
Emma Reynolds, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: “I share the public’s anger at the current state of our water system and this government is taking decisive action.
“I want to give the Environment Agency the teeth it needs to tackle all rule breaking. With new, automatic and tougher penalties for water companies, there will be swift consequences for offences – including not treating sewage to the required standard and maintenance failures.
“We are delivering on our Plan for Change by pushing ahead with reforms to clean up our rivers, lakes and seas.”
Modelling, based on water company performance in previous years, suggests the changes could cost the water sector between £50 million and £67 million a year.
However, the government suggests the actual cost is likely to be much lower as the policy is designed to “drive effective and lasting behaviour change”.
The changes would sit alongside existing enforcement tools, including unlimited financial penalties – known as Variable Monetary Penalties – where offending is proved to a criminal standard. There would remain the option of prosecution for the most serious offences.
The government is consulting on the proposals until 3rd December 2025.
Water firms could face ‘quicker’ fines of £500k for sewage spills appeared first on Energy Live News.