Sector sinks in the EPA as Severn Trent continues an all-star AMP

(by Karma Loveday)

Pollution performance dragged sector results in this year’s Environmental Performance Assessment (EPA) down to a new low for the AMP, with companies collectively earning only just over half of the stars available – 19 out of a maximum 36, compared to last year’s 25 stars.

Severn Trent alone secured the highest rating of four stars, maintaining the place from last year and indeed from the whole AMP to date. Last year’s other four-star firms, Wessex Water and United Utilities, fell back to join all other companies except Thames Water on a two-star rating. Thames itself fell back from two-stars in 2023 to just one star in 2024.

Pollution numbers are the most pertinent problem. Wessex and Northumbrian recorded zero serious pollutions (category 1 and 2); Severn Trent and United Utilities recorded one and two respectively, but remained within target. All other companies were rated red as significantly below target and in all, serious pollution numbers increased by 60% to 75. The majority, though, were from just three firms: Thames, Southern and Yorkshire.

Total pollution incidents from sewerage and water supply assets (category 1 to 3) increased significantly to 2,801 – the third consecutive annual increase and highest number since 2011. The number from sewerage assets alone was 2,469. Here, seven firms were rated red, and two (Yorkshire and Severn Trent) rated amber. For the second consecutive year, no water company achieved green for total incidents.

• Natural Resources Wales (NRW) said it had been “another year of disappointing results for Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water” as it published its EPA report. Welsh Water was rated two-star for the third consecutive year.

The regulator said: “The main area of concern highlighted in the report is another increase in sewerage pollution incidents – rising for the 5th year running.” Welsh Water was responsible for 155 sewerage and water supply pollution incidents during 2024, including six serious incidents and 149 lower impact incidents. This is the highest number of incidents recorded by the company in ten years. Improvements were recorded in the company’s self-reporting of incidents, which was up 6% to 74%, but still below the 80% target.

Separately, NRW is also consulting for the six months to 21 April on plans to manage the health of Wales’ rivers, streams, lakes, groundwaters and coastal waters via River Basin Management Plans.