WATER GIANTS HIT WITH £87M FINES OVER SEWAGE FAILURES – Regulator says over £240m in penalties and redress packages issued this year alone
Two of the UK’s biggest water firms have been hit with major fines after repeated failures in dealing with sewage.
Anglian Water and South West Water have been ordered to pay a combined £86.8m, according to industry watchdog Ofwat. Anglian faces the lion’s share, with £62.8m in penalties and redress measures, while South West Water has been fined £24m.
The companies were found to have failed in properly operating, maintaining, and upgrading their wastewater treatment systems — leading to excessive spills from storm overflows and wider sewage mismanagement.
Investigators also criticised poor internal processes and weak board-level oversight, saying both firms neglected their duty to protect local communities and waterways.
These latest punishments are part of a broader crackdown: Ofwat said that five major wastewater investigations this year alone have already racked up more than £240m in enforcement action. Much of that money will go towards storm drain improvements and projects to restore damaged river ecosystems.
Lynn Parker, Ofwat’s senior director for enforcement, said: “Our investigations found failures in how Anglian Water and South West Water have operated and maintained their sewage works and networks, which has resulted in excessive spills from storm overflows.”
