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by Karma Loveday

Ofwat opens four more wastewater enforcement cases

All wastewater companies in England and Wales are now subject to wastewater enforcement activities, after Ofwat opened new cases against four more firms.


Last week, Ofwat served formal notices on Welsh Water, Hafren Dyfrdwy, Severn Trent and United Utilities, after its analysis of information on their environmental performance and storm spills indicated these companies – as well as their counterparts elsewhere in the sector – may not be fulfilling their legal obligations. All firms have been under investigation for some time.


A paragraph in Ofwat's press release suggested there could be mitigations for Severn Trent: “Severn Trent has recently announced an ambitious programme to significantly reduce use of storm overflow which Ofwat welcomes. The investigation will consider both current and past performance and reflect on the steps companies are now taking in deciding if and what action is needed.”


Elsewhere in the sector, Southern Water remains subject to enforcement monitoring following a previous enforcement case in 2019, and enforcement cases involving Anglian Water, Northumbrian Water, South West Water, Thames Water, Wessex Water and Yorkshire Water have been running since 2022. These six cases are split into two tranches; those in the first tranche (Thames, Northumbrian and Yorkshire) were notified with provisional findings last year, but nothing has yet been published.


Meanwhile, the Environment Agency is carrying out a parallel criminal investigation into companies’ compliance with environmental permits, involving more than 2,000 wastewater treatment works. In an update last week, the Agency said it had reviewed over 30,000 exhibits, taken over 850 statements and is now approaching external witnesses for statements.

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