LONDON, April 13 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news:

Local communities,waterqualityandwildlifewillbenefitfrom a record £8.5million paid by water companies into environmental restorationprojectsas part of a strengthened crackdown on pollution andpoor performanceacross the sector.

This compares to £5.8 million the year before, a 47% increase, and just under £2 million in the 2023/24financial year.

The Environment Agencyensures thisrecord fundinggoesdirectly tocharities andprojectsthatrestore theharmdone towaterwaysand improvewaterquality,working toleavethemin abetterpositionthan beforeany incident.

The funding supports a wide range of local environmental improvements, including habitat restoration and river recovery projects. Thiswillhelprebuild habitats for threatened species like water voles and salmon that pollution has driven from Britain's waterways.

Enforcement Undertakings are legally binding agreements between the Environment Agency and companies that have breached environmental rules.The undertaking requiresthe company concerned to take steps to prevent repetition of the offending and toput right the damage it has caused. Often this will involve a payment to athird-partywildlifetrust or environmental charity.This moneycanhelp deliver immediate benefits to the environment,without requiringlengthy anduncertaincourt proceedings- complementing the EA's wider enforcement action against serial offenders.

Water Minister Emma Hardy said:

Water companies must be held to account when they break the law.

Thisenforcement actionwillsee millions go directlyinto projects that clean up our rivers, restorehabitatsandbenefitlocal communities, delivering immediate benefits without lengthy court cases.

It comes alongside other government action to clean up our rivers,lakesand seas.We'vealready banned unfair bonuses and introduced landmark legislation to hold water companies to account, and our long-term reforms will mean there is a new, single regulator focused on preventing problems before they occur.

Severn Trent Water paid the most through Enforcement Undertakings in the period, totalling £4,627,424.All ofthis moneywasdirectedto local charities including the Trent Rivers Trust and Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, whohavetheexpertiseto deliver targeted improvements in the affectedcatchments throughmeasures such ashabitat restoration, barrierremovaland water qualityimprovements.

Elsewhere, £300,000 paid by Wessex Waterfollowing their pollution ofthe River Gascoignewill be used by the Yeovil Rivers Community Trusttoimprove habitats in the area, includingvital work tosupportendangered watervolepopulations.It will create reedbeds, wetlands and ponds at Yeovil Country Park and along Preston Brook.

Thesepaymentsfollowa major increase in enforcement activity, including a record 10,000 inspections of water company sites and a significant rise in criminal investigations. More staff, better data, and increased powers mean the regulator can act faster when breaches occur and enable more targeted regulatory action.

Philip Duffy, Chief Executive of the Environment Agency, said:

As theenvironmentalregulatorof the water industry, we are transforming how we enforce the rules - with better data, stronger powers and our largest ever enforcement workforce.

This record level of Enforcement Undertakingspaymentsmeans more money is being reinvested directly into restoring the environment.

While we continue to prosecute andsanctionthe most serious offences, Enforcement Undertakingsallow us to hold companies to account more quickly whileensuring money is channelled directlytowhere damage has occurred,delivering real benefits for people and wildlife.

Enforcement Undertakings are one of a range of tools available to the Environment Agency.Alongside these agreements, the Environment Agency continues to pursuerobust enforcement againstoffenders, includingprosecutions for the most serious offences.New figures show that £8.5 million has been secured through Environment Agency Enforcement Undertakings (EUs) over the lastfinancial year(2025/26) - the highest annual total on record.

Mark Lloyd, Chief Executive of The Rivers Trust, said:

We would prefer that pollution eventsdidn'thappen in the first place and continue to push for the necessary action to ensure this- including ambitious reform of the water system.

Whenpollutionincidentsdooccur, it is right that polluters contribute to the costs of caring for the riversharmed by this.Enforcement Undertakingsare one wayof channelling vital funds into this crucial work, butthisis only a fraction ofthe investment needed to build catchment resilience to pollution,floodsand drought.

The Rivers Trustexists to ensure thriving rivers and iswell placed to putany, and all,funding togood useto improve our waterwaysin line with our charity's mission.

The government has also introduced stronger powers through the Water (Special Measures) Act,including tougher penalties and new measures to ensure regulators can act more quickly and effectively.

Further reforms are planned, including new civil penalties to close gaps in enforcement and ensure that all breaches- including lower-level offences-aredealt with swiftly and proportionately.

Today's announcement forms part of ongoing action to transform the water sector, improve transparency and drive better performance from water companies.

Notes to editors

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Enforcement Undertakings are voluntary agreements between offenders and the Environment Agency, requiring companies to fund environmental improvements instead of paying fines to the Treasury.

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£8 million in Enforcement Undertakings was secured in the 2025/26financial year,the highest annual total on record.

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The Environment Agency carried out a record 10,000 inspections of water company assets this year.

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The Water (Special Measures) Act 2025introduces stronger enforcement powers, including cost recovery and new civil penalties.

Year Apr 2025 -March2026

Total: £8,505,424.00

EU REF Company Name Date of Acceptance Value

EU1089 Severn Trent Water Limited 29/05/2025 £777,424.00

EU1147 Anglian Water Services Ltd 02/07/2025 £200,000.00

EU1086 Yorkshire Water Services Limited 24/07/2025 £50,000.00

EU1095 Yorkshire Water Services Limited 25/07/2025 £300,000.00

EU1149 Wessex Water Services Ltd 08/08/2025 £300,000.00

EU1059 Yorkshire Water Services Limited 29/09/2025 £300,000.00

EU1091 Severn Trent Water Limited 29/09/2025 £600,000.00

EU1167 Severn Trent Water Limited 29/09/2025 £500,000.00

EU1131 Anglian Water Services Ltd 30/09/2025 £180,000.00

EU1148 Anglian Water Services Ltd 04/11/2025 £100,000.00

EU1172 Severn Trent Water Limited 11/11/2025 £550,000.00

EU1154 Yorkshire Water Services Limited 02/12/2025 £500,000.00

EU1151 Yorkshire Water Services Limited 16/12/2025 £350,000.00

EU843 Thames Water Utilities Ltd 18/12/2025 £373,000.00

EU1152 Yorkshire Water Services Limited 19/01/2026 £250,000.00

EU868 Severn Trent Water Limited 09/02/2026 £700,000.00

EU1099 Severn Trent Water Limited 09/02/2026 £1,500,000.00

EU1159 Yorkshire Water Services Limited 10/02/2026 £500,000.00

EU1227 Northumbrian Water Ltd 04/03/2026 £200,000.00

EU1230 Anglian Water Services Ltd 25/03/2026 £275,000.00

Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.