Water companies must now publish annual pollution-cutting plans under tough new powers introduced by the government.
Pollution Incident Reduction Plans (PIRPs) were previously voluntary, with only some water companies electing to produce and deliver them. Through powers in the Water (Special Measures) Act, they will now be mandatory and must be made public, creating unprecedented transparency and accountability in the sector.
Failure to publish compliant plans – with the first batch due this April – will be a criminal offence for both companies and their chief executives.
The Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales has published detailed guidance for companies on what to include in their plans and how they should be used to cut pollution.
The plans must set out the specific actions companies will take to cut their pollution, including through better monitoring, clearing blockages, and customer awareness campaigns. Companies have also been told to identify and explain the root causes of their pollution incidents, to ensure they are focused not just on short-term fixes but on long-term prevention.
From 2027, companies will also have to produce annual ‘Implementation Reports’ demonstrating their year‑on‑year progress to cut pollution incidents.
“It is completely unacceptable that so much sewage is still entering our waterways, and it cannot continue,” said Water Minister Emma Hardy.
“This government is delivering a new era of accountability in the water sector. We’ve banned unfair bonuses for water bosses, introduced tough penalties for pollution and these mandatory plans are the latest step to hold water companies to account and tackle the root causes of pollution.
“And we’re not stopping there. Our Water White Paper will set out long-term reforms to strengthen regulation, clean up our waterways, and drive infrastructure delivery.”
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