Thames Water to be fined £104m over sewage discharges

Image: River Thames at Strand on the Green on a bad day after heavy rainfall

Release of excess storm water and sewage into waterways has become ‘routine’ instead of just in ‘exceptional circumstances’

The water industry regulator Ofwat has said it will penalise Thames Water with a £104m fine for failing to manage its wastewater treatment works.

Ofwat has found that three companies – Thames Water, Yorkshire Water and Northumbrian Water – have failed to adequately invest in and maintain their networks, leading to repeated releases of raw sewage into the country’s waterways.

As a result of their lack of investment in the upgrade and maintenance of their wastewater treatment works, the combined sewage overflows designed to release excess storm water and sewage into waterways in ‘exceptional circumstances’ are frequently overwhelmed whenever there is heavy rain, and now ‘routinely’ release sewage into waterways.

Sewage spills into England’s rivers and seas more than doubled last year.

The regulator’s Chief Executive, David Black, said:

“Ofwat has uncovered a catalogue of failure by Thames Water, Yorkshire Water and Northumbrian Water in how they ran their sewage works and this resulted in excessive spills from storm overflows.

“Our investigation has shown how they routinely released sewage into our rivers and seas, rather than ensuring that this only happens in exceptional circumstances as the law intends.”

Ofwat is proposing the three water companies are fined a total of £168m and in addition to the proposed financial penalties, the regulatory body is also consulting on proposed enforcement orders which will require each company to rectify the problems Ofwat has identified to ensure they comply with their legal and regulatory obligations.

‘Companies will not be able to recover the money for any proposed penalties from customers and Ofwat will ensure that customers are not charged twice where additional maintenance is required’.

Water companies have been proposing to raise their customers bills by more than 44% over the next five years to pay for improvements in water infrastructure. Thames Water has argued for an increase of £191 over the next five years.

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