Water companies must now publish annual pollution-cutting plans
under tough new powers introduced by the government.
Pollution Incident Reduction Plans (PIRPs) were previously
voluntary, with only some water companies electing to produce and
deliver them. Through powers in the Water (Special Measures) Act,
they will now be mandatory and must be made public, creating
unprecedented transparency and accountability in the sector.
Failure to publish compliant plans – with the first batch due
this April - will be a criminal offence for both companies and
their chief executives.
Water Minister said:
It is completely unacceptable that so much sewage is still
entering our waterways, and it cannot continue.
This government is delivering a new era of accountability in the
water sector. We've banned unfair bonuses for water bosses,
introduced tough penalties for pollution and these mandatory
plans are the latest step to hold water companies to account and
tackle the root causes of pollution.
And we're not stopping there. Our Water White Paper will set out
long-term reforms to strengthen regulation, clean up our
waterways, and drive infrastructure delivery.
The Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales have today (8
January) published detailed guidance for companies
on what to include in their plans and how they should be used to
cut pollution.
The plans must set out the specific actions companies will take
to cut their pollution, including through better monitoring,
clearing blockages, and customer awareness campaigns. Companies
have also been told to identify and explain the root causes of
their pollution incidents, to ensure they are focused not just on
short-term fixes but on long-term prevention.
From 2027, companies will also have to produce annual
‘Implementation Reports' demonstrating their year‑on‑year
progress to cut pollution incidents.
Environment Agency Water Director Helen Wakeham
said:
Pollution incidents from water companies happen far too often and
can have devastating consequences on the environment and
communities.
We have been clear that every water company now needs to focus on
delivery. These plans will ensure companies are taking actions to
cut their pollution incidents and are publicly accountable for
doing so.
Our guidance is designed to help companies plan and deliver
results – and we will continue to challenge them if they fall
short.
The Environment Agency's latest ratings of
water companies' environmental performance were the lowest since
2011. In 2024 alone, there were 2,801 reported pollution
incidents in England - 75 of which were classified as serious.
The new guidance comes ahead of the government's Water White
Paper which is expected to set out plans for longer-term reforms
to strengthen regulation and tackle pollution – including through
the creation of a new, single water regulator, and accelerate the
delivery of vital infrastructure.
Notes to editors
- The Water (Special Measures) Act 2025 requires all water and
sewerage undertakers (as defined by the Water Industry Act 1991)
to publish annual PIRPs from April 2026 and Implementation
Reports from April 2027.
- For water companies, annual PIRPs will sit alongside
statutory Drainage and Wastewater Management Plans (DWMPs). While
DWMPs provide the 25‑year strategic plan and investment pathway,
PIRPs and Implementation Reports should show shorter‑term,
operational action on frequent causes of pollution. Together,
they will support a more proactive approach to building more
resilience in the water system and maintaining and improving
asset health and performance.
