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New data exposes ‘the bankruptcy of Britain’s privatised water model’

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/new-data-exposes-bankruptcy-britains-privatised-water-model

 A tanker pumps out excess sewage from the Lightlands Lane sewage pumping station in Cookham, Berskhire which flooded after recent heavy rainfall, January 10, 2024

Water companies record worst-ever environmental performance in England as serious pollution incidents increase by 60% in 2024, Environment Agency finds

EMBATTLED water companies have recorded their worst-ever environmental performance in England, with serious pollution incidents up 60 per cent last year, data from the Environment Agency revealed yesterday.

Thames Water, Southern Water and Yorkshire Water were responsible for 81 per cent of all serious incidents, while Thames Water alone saw cases more than double.

Northumbrian and Wessex Water were the only companies with none.

The agency said only Severn Trent achieved the top four-star rating for 2024, while all nine water and sewage firms in England collectively earned just 19 out of a possible 36 stars — the lowest since the annual performance system began in 2011.

The regulator said the decline marked the end of over a decade of gradual improvement.

Serious pollution incidents causing significant environmental harm rose to 75, their highest since 2013.

The agency partly blamed extreme weather, which strained ageing infrastructure, but said “this is never an excuse.”

It also cited long-term underinvestment and poor maintenance.

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Article continues at https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/new-data-exposes-bankruptcy-britains-privatised-water-model

April 2023 Surfers Against Sewage and Extinction Rebellion protests in St Agnes, Perranporth, Truro and Charlestown which unveiled spoof Blue Plaques to the MPs and Conservative Government who allowed raw sewage to be dumped in the sea (Image: Surfers Against Sewage)
April 2023 Surfers Against Sewage and Extinction Rebellion protests in St Agnes, Perranporth, Truro and Charlestown which unveiled spoof Blue Plaques to the MPs and Conservative Government who allowed raw sewage to be dumped in the sea (Image: Surfers Against Sewage)

Continue ReadingNew data exposes ‘the bankruptcy of Britain’s privatised water model’

Five water firms to raise bills after appeal

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/five-water-firms-raise-bills-after-appeal

 A water bill from Southern Water

PLANS to allow water firms to increase bills yet again, despite decades of mismanagement and ongoing pollution, were condemned by campaigners today.

Five firms are set to raise charges by up to 5 per cent above the limits initially set by regulator Ofwat.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) confirmed that Anglian Water, Northumbrian Water, South East Water, Southern Water and Wessex Water have been permitted to hike their tariffs following an appeal.

The firms argued that Ofwat’s original decision left them unable to meet the regulatory requirements set out for them.

It follows a ruling in December, in which Southern had already been allowed to increase bills by 53 per cent over the next five years.

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Kirstin Baker, who chaired the independent group of experts appointed by the CMA to consider the price controls, said that the request for significant bill increases were “largely unjustified.”

River Action CEO James Wallace said: “Once again, water bill payers are forced to shoulder the cost of decades of failure.

“Millions of households in England face higher bills while rivers continue to suffer from mismanagement by privatised water companies.

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/five-water-firms-raise-bills-after-appeal

April 2023 Surfers Against Sewage and Extinction Rebellion protests in St Agnes, Perranporth, Truro and Charlestown which unveiled spoof Blue Plaques to the MPs and Conservative Government who allowed raw sewage to be dumped in the sea (Image: Surfers Against Sewage)
April 2023 Surfers Against Sewage and Extinction Rebellion protests in St Agnes, Perranporth, Truro and Charlestown which unveiled spoof Blue Plaques to the MPs and Conservative Government who allowed raw sewage to be dumped in the sea (Image: Surfers Against Sewage)
Continue ReadingFive water firms to raise bills after appeal

Pollution figures ‘the latest indicator of a water sector in total chaos’

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/pollution-figures-latest-indicator-water-sector-total-chaos

 A tanker pumps out excess sewage from the Lightlands Lane sewage pumping station in Cookham, Berskhire

CALLS to nationalise the water sector intensified yesterday after it emerged that serious pollution incidents in England jumped by 60 per cent last year.

The Environment Agency reported 75 major incidents that fell under categories one and two, which can severely harm the environment and human health.

Serious incidents doubled from 14 to 33 at crisis-hit Thames Water, the watchdog found.

Southern Water was responsible for 15 of the incidents and Yorkshire Water for 13.

Pollution incidents across all categories had increased by 29 per cent, with 2,801 recorded last year. 

Thames Water recorded the most incidents again at 523, followed by Anglian Water (482) and United Utilities (376).

The rise was attributed to underinvestment in new infrastructure, poor asset maintenance and reduced resilience due to the impacts of climate change. 

We Own It founder Cat Hobbs said the figures “are the latest indicator of a water sector in total chaos.

“The roots of this chaos extend all the way back to when Thatcher privatised water in the 1980s — effectively flogging the family silver for a quick buck.

“Since then, private shareholders have stuffed their pockets with gold, amassing £80 billion in payouts. 

“They’ve killed our rivers and let the infrastructure crumble, while bill-payers pick up the tab.

“Recent research shows that the cost of public ownership could be close to zero. This solution could also save the public £3-5bn a year, making publicly owned water a source of income for the Treasury.”

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Continue ReadingPollution figures ‘the latest indicator of a water sector in total chaos’

Water firms banned from handing bonuses to bosses

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/water-firms-banned-handing-bonuses-bosses

 A tanker from Thames Water

SIX water companies have been banned from paying bonuses to senior bosses under new rules that came into force today.

Thames Water, Yorkshire Water, Anglian Water, Wessex Water, United Utilities and Southern Water were all included in the ban, which covers the 2024-25 financial year.

Environment Secretary Steve Reed warned companies would be “extremely foolish” to try getting around the new ban by increasing salaries.

He warned water companies should avoid moves that would lose the “confidence” of customers and said there was a need to “rebuild their broken relationship.”

“Customers are furious at the fact that they’re seeing local waterways being polluted, but bosses taking multimillion-pound bonuses,” he told Times Radio.

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Continues at https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/water-firms-banned-handing-bonuses-bosses

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Ofwat is now investigating all eleven of England and Wales’ water companies

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https://www.cityam.com/ofwat-is-now-investigating-all-eleven-of-england-and-wales-water-companies/

Surfers Against Sewage paddle-outs involve local communities coming together to protest against water companies dumping sewage in the oceans and rivers they use for watersports and swimming. (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images)

Ofwat is opening enforcement cases into four more water companies, meaning it is now investigating every single water and wastewater firm in England and Wales for the mismanagement of their networks and treatment.

On Tuesday the regulator confirmed it has served formal notices on Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, Hafren Dyfrdwy, Severn Trent and United Utilities to gather evidence for the investigation.

The notices follow a what Ofwat described as a “detailed” analysis of information on firms’ environmental performance and data about the regularity of their spills from storm overflows.

The regulator believes the four firms may not be fulfilling their obligation to protect the environment and minimise pollution, meaning that it is now investigating all 11 water companies in England and Wales.

Investigations into Anglian Water, Northumbrian Water, South West Water and Thames Water, which last week was effectively placed into special measures by Ofwat, are ongoing from 2022, while Southern Water is still subject to monitoring following a case that dates back to 2019.

David Black, Ofwat’s chief executive, said: ““The fact that Ofwat now has enforcement cases with all 11 of the wastewater companies in England and Wales demonstrates how concerned we are about the sector’s environmental performance.

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https://www.cityam.com/ofwat-is-now-investigating-all-eleven-of-england-and-wales-water-companies/

Continue ReadingOfwat is now investigating all eleven of England and Wales’ water companies