A record 81 criminal investigations into water companies have been launched in England since the 2024 general election, representing a surge of 145 per cent.
Labour is touting the new figures as evidence the party is “cleaning up the foul mess the Tories left behind.”
In the July 2024-March 2025 period, the number of inspections carried out by authorities into sewage pollution increased by nearly 400 per cent. The record number of Environment Agency spot checks at water company premises and rivers is said to have revealed widespread law-breaking.
Following these investigations, water bosses could be jailed for five years and water companies fined hundreds of millions of pounds, according to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
Steve Reed, the environment secretary, has said that water companies have “too often gone unpunished” as he vowed to “clean up our rivers, lakes and seas for good.”
Reed commented: “Water companies have too often gone unpunished as they pump record levels of sewage into our waterways. No more.
“A record number of criminal investigations have been launched into law-breaking water companies — which could see bosses behind bars.
“With this government, water companies who break the law will finally be punished for their disgraceful behaviour so we can clean up our rivers, lakes and seas for good.”
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Labour has also criticised Reform UK for making the “unfunded” commitment to nationalise the water industry, something the party says could cost taxpayers more than £100 billion.
In a further political intervention, Reed has accused the Conservatives of “shamelessly” seeking to cover up the extent of sewage spills when in government.
The environment secretary added: “Not only did the Conservatives oversee record levels of sewage dumping, they also shamelessly tried to cover it up.
“And Reform didn’t even mention sewage in their manifesto, Nigel Farage simply doesn’t care about our beautiful rivers, lakes and seas.
“This Labour government is cleaning up the foul mess the Tories left behind with a record number of criminal investigations into lawbreaking water companies — which could see bosses behind bars.”
A water company is considered to be committing a criminal offence when it breaches the rules of its environmental permit, such as releasing excessive pollution into a river or failing to carry out water quality monitoring.
The most serious offences, like illegal sewage spills, trigger a criminal investigation that could see water company fines and even criminal prosecution for water bosses.
Under powers legislated for in the Water (Special Measures) Act 2025, which received Royal Assent in February, executives who cover up or hide illegal sewage spills can now be locked up for up to two years.
The Environment Agency is also said to be carrying out its largest ever criminal investigation into potential widespread non-compliance by water companies at over 2000 sewage treatment works.
Philip Duffy, chief executive of the Environment Agency said: “This milestone is testament to our determination to hold water companies to account and achieve a cleaner water environment.
“Our message to the industry is clear: we expect full compliance throughout the water system, and we will not hesitate to take robust enforcement action where we identify serious breaches.
“This is just the beginning — we are on track to deliver 10,000 inspections next year, using our tougher powers gained through the Water (Special Measures) Act alongside more officers and upgraded digital tools to drive better performance across the water sector.”
According to DEFRA, seven cases against water companies are going to court over the next few months following criminal investigations by the Environment Agency.
Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat environment spokesperson, has sought to pour cold water on the announcement, declaring the government’s job “half done”.
Farron commented: “81 investigations does not even begin to address the sewage scandal that has plagued British rivers and seas for far too long.
“This is a national scandal which got far worse under the Conservatives’ watch. Their record is one of rising sewage levels and water firms stuffing their pockets with cash.
“And now, the government’s attempt to tackle the crisis is a job half done. A toothless regulator will fail to end the scandal of multi-million pound bonuses for sewage dumpers.
“The Liberal Democrats have long led the campaign to replace Ofwat with a new regulator with proper enforcement power. We will continue to hold the government and polluting water companies accountable.”
Josh Self is Editor of Politics.co.uk, follow him on Bluesky here.
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