LONDON, Dec. 26 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news:

As thousands of people across England brave icy waters for traditional Boxing Day swims, the government reflects on a year ofactionin cleaning up the nation's rivers,lakesand seas.

Thisfollowslast month's resultsshowingthat 93% of bathing sites meet standards for swimming - an encouraging improvement on last year.

In 2025, decisive actionwastakentoreset the water sector, strengthen regulation and drive long-term investment, all aimed at restoring public trust and protecting the waters people enjoy.

Thegovernment has:

* Passed the landmark Water (Special Measures) Act, introducing the toughest enforcement powers in a decade, includingcriminal liability for water bosses who cover up illegal sewage spills and the power toban unfair bonuses, which has seenmore than £4million pounds in bonuses banned across six water companies this year. * Ringfenced water company investment, ensuring customers' money is spent on fixing pipes, reducing sewagespillsand improving water quality, not dividends or bonuses. * Given the Environment Agency teeth, allowing the regulator to recover enforcement costs from polluters,significantly boost inspections, and issue penalties more quickly without having to direct resources to lengthy investigations. * Improved transparency, requiring real-time monitoring at every emergency overflow so the public can see what is happening in their local waters. * Boosted protections for customers, doubling compensation when basic water services fail and making it easier for vulnerable households to access bill support.

These measures areunderpinned by over£104 billioninprivate investment, secured at the end of last year,to upgrade water infrastructure over the next five years - the largest programme since privatisation - creating jobs, supporting newhomesand cutting pollution.

This government is also reforming our bathing water regulations to lift prescriptive rules on bathing seasons and de-designation; and to protect public health.

Water Minister Emma Hardysaid:

Boxing Day swims are a brilliant reminder of how much people value their rivers,lakesand seas.

This yearwe'vetaken tough, long-overdue action to protect them -increasing bathing water quality,blocking millions inbonusesand unlocking record investment to clean up our waterways.

Andwe'renot stopping there.Next year wewill set out long-term reforms tobuild upon thiswork andcreate a water sector fit for the future.

Building on this action, the government will publish a Water White Paper in the new year, setting out comprehensive long-term plans to reform the water sector.

This continues the biggest overhaul of the water industry since privatisation, by strengthening regulation, reducing pollution, and accelerating the delivery of vital infrastructure.

It follows the announcement earlier this year ofplans to abolish Ofwat and replace the current fragmented system with a single, powerful water regulator to give investors clarity, water companies clear expectations, and customers a renewed confidence in the system.

Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.