Environment Agency continues to name for pressing motion as water firm efficiency declines

The Environment Agency (EA) has at present known as on water firms to urgently enhance their efficiency as the newest Environmental Performance Assessment (EPA) for 2024 reveals the bottom rankings for the reason that course of started in 2011.  

The EPA report is an unbiased comparability of environmental efficiency throughout the sector. Since 2011, the EA has used the EPA to charge every firm in England from 1 star to 4 stars, to spotlight the place enchancment in water firm efficiency is required.   

In 2024, the 9 firms collectively achieved simply 19 stars out of a potential 36, down from 25 in 2023. Only Severn Trent Water obtained the highest four-star score for industry-leading EPA efficiency. This is the bottom variety of stars general for the reason that EPA course of started. 

However, standards have been often tightened through the years to mirror rising expectations for water firm efficiency, so the bar is greater than ever. Based on present standards we are able to see a gradual pattern of enchancment since 2011—however these outcomes mark a dip in that pattern. 

Serious incidents—these inflicting vital environmental hurt—have elevated by 60% in contrast with 2023. Thames Water, Southern Water and Yorkshire Water had been accountable for 81% of those critical incidents, whereas Northumbrian Water and Wessex Water recorded none. 

Access to extra information than ever earlier than, and elevated monitoring and inspections, permit for a clearer understanding of water firm efficiency—and following the newest star rankings, the EA has urgently known as for a basic shift in tradition and behavior throughout the sector. 

Environment Agency Chair Alan Lovell stated:

This 12 months’s outcomes are poor and should function a transparent and pressing sign for change. 

What is required now from each water firm is daring management, a shift in mindset, and a relentless deal with supply. 

We will assist them nevertheless we are able to however will proceed to robustly problem them once they fall quick.

The report cites quite a few components for the decline in efficiency, together with the moist and stormy climate in 2024, underinvestment and poor upkeep of infrastructure, and in addition elevated monitoring and inspection.  

To ramp up its regulation the EA is investing in 500 further workers together with setting officers, information analysts, enforcement specialists and technical consultants, in addition to workforce leaders and managers. It has developed new digital programs and considerably elevated the variety of water firm inspections—in 2024/25 the EA delivered over 4,600 water firm inspections and is on monitor to ship 10,000 in 2025/26. 

The EPA has been launched on the identical day as Ofwat’s Water Company Performance Report, reflecting the regulators’ dedication to a extra built-in and clear method to water sector regulation. 

The Environment Agency has just lately introduced that present EPA standards shall be tightened, and new standards launched, to satisfy greater public and environmental expectations.  

Notes to editors

• The Environmental Performance Assessment (EPA) charges water and sewerage firms in England from 1 to 4 stars, primarily based on measures together with air pollution incidents, compliance with permits, and self-reporting. 

• The annual report covers efficiency throughout the 2024 calendar 12 months. 

• Since 2015, the Environment Agency has concluded 67 prosecutions in opposition to water and sewerage firms, securing fines totalling over £153 million. 

• The EPA report could be accessed on-line. 

• Ofwat’s Water Company Performance Report is printed on the identical day and could be accessed on-line. 

• We persistently apply the EPA metrics to make sure reporting is in keeping with the 5-year funding cycle enabling stability and predictability. 

• The metrics are often tightened through the years to mirror rising expectations of water firm efficiency. Applying the present 2024 metrics retroactively reveals a gradual pattern of enchancment since 2011. For instance, utilizing 2024 metrics the general star score in 2011 would have been 11—enhancing to 25 in 2023. More info within the star rankings 2011-2024 report.