This week, the Water (Special Measures) Bill passed Third Reading – legislation that will crack down on water companies polluting Britain’s rivers, lakes, and seas.

After 14 years of Conservative failure, we have record levels of illegal sewage dumping in Britain’s waterways. The Labour Government is committed to cleaning them up and holding water companies accountable for their actions.

This will mark the most significant increase in enforcement powers in a decade, giving regulators new powers to take tougher and faster action to prevent water companies damaging the environment.

The Bill will also create tougher penalties for water companies who pollute our waterways, including imprisonment for executives when companies fail to co-operate, or obstruct investigations. The new legislation will also impose fines for specific offences and block bonuses for water bosses if they fail to meet high standards to protect the environment, their consumers, and their company’s finances.

It will also introduce independent monitoring of sewage outlets and require water companies to publish information for all emergency storm overflows within an hour of the discharge taking place.

Alongside this, the Government’s new Independent Commission for Water will report this year on how to tackle the systemic issues in the water sector.

Catherine McKinnell MP commented:

“The Conservatives failed to protect our rivers, lakes, and seas – allowing water companies to exploit our waterways time and time again. It is just not good enough – and we need bold action to turn the page.

“I was proud to back the Water (Special Measures) Bill this week, and believe that the new powers to ban bonuses and bring criminal charges against polluting bosses represents a significant step towards cleaning up Britain’s waterways.”