On Tuesday, a UK regulator announced that it was considering fining the three largest water suppliers in England a total of o168 million ($214 million) for their inadequate sewage handling.
According to Ofwat, Thames Water, the largest supplier to Britain and a company that is having financial difficulties, would face the greatest penalties of o104 million.
The regulator’s decision is made at a time when environmentalists and the new Labour administration in Britain are closely monitoring the water business due to concerns over contamination of rivers and other waterways.
“Ofwat has today proposed that three water companies will be fined a total of o168 million for failing to manage their wastewater treatment works and networks, as part of the first batch of outcomes from its biggest ever investigation,” a statement said.
Yorkshire Water could be fined o47 million and Northumbrian Water o17 million, it added.
“Ofwat has uncovered a catalogue of failure by Thames Water, Yorkshire Water and Northumbrian Water in how they ran their sewage works and this resulted in excessive spills from storm overflows,” said Ofwat chief executive David Black.
“Our investigation has shown how they routinely released sewage into our rivers and seas, rather than ensuring that this only happens in exceptional circumstances as the law intends.”
