Behind the record fines announced by Ofwat for the routine dumping of sewage into rivers and seas by three water companies, there is a voiceless victim, one that does not sit in boardrooms, or get a chance to count dividends. It is our rivers and coastal waters, subjected to years of continuous pollution under the noses of the regulators, which are suffering.
In all likelihood the £168m penalties for the already struggling Thames Water, Yorkshire Water and Northumbrian Water will be followed by fines for the remaining eight water and sewerage companies, all of whom Ofwat is investigating over failure to treat sewage according to the law.
The penalties are yet more evidence of the systemic, industry-wide failure of the privatised water industry to fulfil its legal duties. Now is the time to ask how much, if any, of the millions in fines, which will all go to the Treasury, will be spent in the months and years ahead on ecological restoration and mitigation for these damaged habitats?
Likely very little, and that’s the issue. These fines (although too small) are a good start, but more needs to be done to force these companies to clear up their mess. In a just world the entire C Suite would be out clearing up this mess by hand.
A mandatory weekly swim in one of the rivers in their operating area, downstream from treatment works of course, should do the job.