The Chair of the Environment Agency has called for courts to make fines for water pollution incidents proportionate to the companies’ turnover, saying that the water companies are responsible for "at least one serious pollution incident every week."

Emma Howard Boyd was commenting on yesterday’s publication by Ofwat of its agenda to improve water companies’ corporate behaviours in order to rebuild public trust in the water sector.

The EA Chair said:

“The courts need to make fines for pollution incidents proportionate to the turnover of companies. Sentencing guidelines in 2014 did bring in higher fines for environmental offences, but financial penalties must force board members to seriously consider environment risk, and not see it as an operational expense.”

She welcomed the Secretary of State Michael Gove MP and Ofwat’s call for water companies to act as diligently for their customers and the natural world as their owners, referring to Ofwat’s suggestion that they should consider sharing water resources better.

Today, the Environment Agency is meeting senior water company representatives to agree how to increase collaboration and coordination across the sector.

However, Boyd warned despite the fact that since 2005, the water industry has invested billions in the environment and brought compliance for discharge at wastewater treatment works to 99 per cent, it was “not a moment for congratulations.”

“In line with the ambition of the 25 Year Environment Plan, water companies also need to do more to act on climate change. England’s flood and drought risks are increasing so we need to see more action to provide water security. Water companies shouldn’t think of climate resilience as just expenditure. On Friday, Mark Carney spoke of the major opportunity for investors and creditors it brings in long-term infrastructure.”