The Environment Agency (EA) has expanded its surveillance of the water network to record levels, completing over 10,000 inspections in the last year.
The record number of inspections, up from 4,600 in 2024/2025, saw 22% of site visits uncovering at least one issue, down from 25% the previous year.
In the past year, the EA’s inspection team found over 3,000 permit condition breaches, in which companies were failing to comply with environmental regulation, which was achieved by deploying the largest ever water-enforcement workforce.
Helen Wakeham, director for water, said: “Inspections are a vital preventative measure, with our teams issuing over 3000 individual actions to water companies, including repairing sewage works and upgrading infrastructure.
“Together, this will drive meaningful improvements in performance, hold persistent offenders to account and ultimately create a cleaner water environment.”
Checks from the EA officers ensure that the assets of water companies, such as treatment works, storm drainage, and sewage pumping stations, are operating in accordance with their permits.
Breaches can be dealt with through warnings, advice, and prosecution as part of the EA’s enforcement response.
The Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP) requires wastewater treatment works to meet higher standards, water companies to monitor 100% of storm overflow, and allows the EA to deploy a new range of enforcement powers to drive sector change.
Water Minister, Emma Hardy, said: “Thanks to our investment in the Environment Agency, inspectors are out in force, checking water company assets at unprecedented levels and taking action where standards aren’t met.
“This greater oversight of water companies coupled with our long-term reforms will prevent problems before they occur and ensure serial offenders are punished, ensuring a healthy, sustainable water system for the future.”
The legal deadline for water companies to publish Pollution Incident Reduction Plans (PIRPs), is April 1st, a mandatory requirement of the Water (Special Measures) Act, in which specific actions must be set out by water companies on how they plan to cut their pollution.
Featured image credit: Bob Brewer via Unsplash
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