Five firms’ fines to fund 51 projects in Water Restoration Fund payout

Fifty-one environment projects in the areas served by Anglian Water, South West Water, Thames Water, Yorkshire Water and United Utilities have secured money from the Water Restoration Fund to spend on local improvements.

Fines totalling £10m incurred by the five firms (see table) for pollutions between April 2022 and October 2023 will fund activities such as re-wilding, restoring floodplains and assessing and improving water quality. Local examples include restoring riverbeds in Exmoor National Park and tackling septic tank spills into Windermere.

Environment secretary Emma Reynolds commented: “Under our Plan for Change we’re resetting the water industry – holding water companies to account and reinvesting in areas harmed by their rule breaking.”

Nature groups welcomed the funding boost for local community action and reiterated their call for the Government to commit to the Water Restoration Fund for the long term.