• Mar. Jul 8th, 2025

fifebusinessjournal.co.uk

fifebusinessjournal.co.uk

Yorkshire Water agrees to pay £40m for sewage overflow failures

PorStaff

Mar 20, 2025
Sewage overflow into a river. File pic: iStock

Yorkshire Water has agreed a £40m ‘enforcement package’ with the industry regulator after an investigation found sewage outflow and wastewater deficiencies at the company. Ofwat identified «serious failures» over how the firm operated and maintained its sewage network, resulting in excessive spills from storm overflows.

The bulk of the penalty – £36.6m – will be spent on infrastructure upgrades over the next five years, the regulator said. Money latest: Top chef rages at modern phenomenon in restaurants. The balance of £3.4m would support the work of the Great Yorkshire Rivers Partnership to help clear artificial barriers and improve water quality across the regional river network.

The enforcement agreement was announced as Yorkshire Water prepares to raise bills for its five million customers by 29% from 1 April. Ofwat’s bill settlements with suppliers across England and Wales – some of which are the subject of appeal – will see the vast majority of homes and businesses face inflation-busting increases.

Average bills will soar by £10 a month for 2025/26 and rise further between 2026 and 2030 in return for a step up in water company investment, particularly in the area of storm outflows which have drawn widespread anger across the UK due to rising instances of sewage releases.

Ofwat said the enforcement agreement meant that customers, rather than the Treasury, received the proceeds of the redress package. Its senior director for enforcement, Lynn Parker, said: «Our investigation has found serious failures in how Yorkshire Water has operated and maintained its sewage works and networks, which has resulted in excessive spills from storm overflows. This is a significant breach and is unacceptable. We are pleased that Yorkshire Water has recognized this failure and is taking steps to put it right for the benefit of customers and the environment. We now expect them to move at pace to correct the remaining issues our investigation has identified.»

Read more from Sky News: Trade war uncertainty weighs on rate cut prospects. Why strong wage growth is a problem for the Bank of England. Defence firms demand ‘patriotic’ banking for investment push.

The company’s chief executive, Nicola Shaw, responded: «We know our storm overflows operate more frequently than we, or our customers, would like them to. Since 2021, we’ve been actively taking steps to improve our performance. We know there’s still more for us to do. We’re at the forefront of the industry to get this resolved and we’re looking forward to delivering our ambitious plans to improve river health in Yorkshire. We apologize for our past mistakes and hope this redress package goes some way to show our commitment to improving the environment.»

SOURCE

Por Staff

Deja una respuesta

Tu dirección de correo electrónico no será publicada. Los campos obligatorios están marcados con *

You missed

Every mobile phone in the UK will receive an emergency alert as the government tests the system nationwide. During this second test, approximately 87 million mobile devices will ring out unprompted. The test is scheduled to occur at 3pm on Sunday 7 September. Phones will vibrate and emit a loud siren sound for roughly 10 seconds, even if they are set to silent. A message will appear on phone screens stating that it is only a test and no action needs to be taken. The test message is expected to say: «This is a test of Emergency Alerts, a new UK government service that will warn you if there’s a life-threatening emergency nearby. In a real emergency, follow the instructions in the alert to keep yourself and others safe. Visit gov.uk/alerts for more information. This is a test. You do not need to take any action.» The government is conducting this test to ensure the system is functioning optimally and to familiarize the public with the alerts. Since the first national test in April 2023, the system has been used for real emergencies, including warnings about adverse weather events and the movement of unexploded bombs. Critics have raised concerns about the potential risks of these alerts, including distractions for drivers and the safety of domestic violence victims who may possess secret phones. Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Pat McFadden, emphasized the importance of this test as a crucial communication tool between the government and the public. All mobile phones will now be equipped to receive emergency alerts, including important information on when the alert will be sent and the content of the message. This feature will ensure that all individuals are promptly informed of any urgent situations and can take necessary actions to stay safe.