Ofwat’s ‘top three’ dumped raw sewage into rivers 177,000 times

WATER companies praised as top performers on pollution by the industry regulator Ofwat dumped sewage into rivers 177,000 times over two years, new analysis shows.

The water watchdog’s latest report shows the three best-rated companies – Northumbrian Water, Severn Trent Water and United Utilities – all dumped sewage into Britain’s waterways in 2020 and 2021.

Analysis by the Liberal Democrats found the sewage discharges lasted more than 1.2 million hours in total.

In Rishi Sunak’s constituency of Richmond, North Yorks, sewage was dumped 2,474 times by Yorkshire Water and Northumbrian Water last year.

In a speech today, Sir Ed Davey, the Lib Dem leader, will brand Ofwat “pointless”, and pledge to abolish it in favour of a “proper watchdog with real teeth”.

He will accuse Ofwat of being a “powerless accomplice” to the problem and awarding a “gold star” to companies that pump waste into waterways.

Under the current system, the Environment Agency regulates water companies’ sewage dumps, but Ofwat can impose financial penalties.

The Lib Dems’ proposed regulator would have the power to prosecute and fine companies that break the rules, and bring legal action against bosses that could result in imprisonment.

His intervention comes after a Telegraph campaign to clean up Britain’s rivers and a summer of sewage pollution on Britain’s beaches.

More sewage warnings were issued on Friday on the south coast following heavy rain in the area. And raw effluent was pictured flowing into the sea last weekend at St Agnes, Cornwall, a popular surfing destination.

The sewage leaks are caused by rainfall overwhelming Victorian water infrastructure, triggering “overflows” into nearby water sources, including rivers and the sea.

Both Labour and the Lib Dems have made the problem a central issue ahead of the next election, and called for tougher measures on water bosses.

Last October, Boris Johnson’s government faced a rebellion in the House of Commons over an amendment to the Environment Act that would have introduced a legal duty for water companies not to pump sewage into rivers.

“[The Conservatives] have let water companies get away with pouring their filth into our rivers, and continually rejected Liberal Democrat proposals to act, from our sewage tax to our ban on water boss bonuses,” Sir Ed is expected to say in his speech.

“Ofwat has been their powerless accomplice. Giving these companies a passing grade – or even a gold star – as they continue to pollute our environment.”

An Ofwat spokesman said the watchdog was “working with all interested parties to help drive change and to hold companies to account” and pointed to £500million of fines it had issued “in the past few years”.

“Water companies need to change and we are using all our powers and resources to deliver that,” the spokesman said.

Severn Trent Water said it was hitting 100 per cent of its environmental targets and was “almost 20 years ahead of sector targets” in some areas.

Northumbrian Water, United Utilities and Yorkshire Water were contacted for comment.