Overview
- An official update timed to Boxing Day swims reports that 93% of bathing sites now meet swimming standards, an improvement on last year.
- The Water (Special Measures) Act introduces criminal liability for bosses who cover up illegal sewage spills and enables bans on unfair executive bonuses.
- More than £4 million in proposed bonus payments have been blocked across six water companies this year under the new enforcement powers.
- The Environment Agency can now recover enforcement costs, increase inspections and issue penalties more quickly, and real-time monitoring is mandated at every emergency overflow.
- Over £104 billion in private investment has been secured for five-year infrastructure upgrades, with a Water White Paper and plans to replace Ofwat with a single, more powerful regulator still to come as campaigners push for enforceable results.