EA opens whistleblowing portal for water workers

The Environment Agency has launched a whistleblowing portal for water workers to report serious environmental wrongdoing by their employers.

The Agency assured that the identities of reporters would be protected, and they would be treated as confidential sources.

Others can also use the portal to report environmental issues, including those working in the waste, nuclear, fishing, agricultural and chemical sectors.

The regulator said reports would be investigated and wrongdoers may potentially face fines or criminal prosecution.

The Agency noted it is already conducting the largest ever criminal investigation into potential widespread non-compliance by water and sewerage companies at thousands of sewage treatment works.