Ofwat’s plans include a penalty of £104 million for Thames Water.
Yorkshire Water faces a £47 million penalties, while Northumbrian Water must pay £17 million.
It follows an Ofwat inquiry that discovered the corporations had “routinely released sewage into our rivers and seas, rather than ensuring that this only happens in exceptional circumstances, as the law intends.”
The regulator stated that it would speak with the companies on the magnitude of the fines before ordering them to pay up, and that it may alternatively seek a deal with them.
Ofwat chief executive David Black stated, “Ofwat has uncovered a catalogue of failures by Thames Water, Yorkshire Water, and Northumbrian Water in how they operated their sewage works, resulting in excessive spills from storm overflows…”
The level of sanctions we want to apply reflects both the gravity of the errors and our desire to take action to ensure that water providers do more to produce healthier rivers and oceans.
He continued, “These corporations must move quickly to make things right and satisfy their responsibility to protect customers and the environment.
