Severn Trent pays over half of bumper enforcement undertakings bill

(by Karma Loveday)

Water companies paid a record £8.5m towards environmental restoration projects though enforcement undertakings in 2025/26, the Environment Agency said – a 47% increase on the £5.8m paid in 2024/25 and four times the £2m paid in 2023/24.

Over half (£4.6m - see table) was paid by Severn Trent, with the money given to local charities including the Trent Rivers Trust and Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust to improve catchments affected by wastewater pollution.

The Agency linked the uplift to its surge in enforcement activity, including a record 10,000 inspections of water company sites. Enforcement undertakings are voluntary agreements between offenders and the Environment Agency, requiring companies to fund environmental improvements instead of paying fines to the Treasury.

Some campaigners criticised the approach and the organisations accepting undertakings payments to carry out remedial environmental works, for enabling water companies to escape formal prosecution. 

• Lib Dem MP for Henley and Thame Freddie van Mierlo has introduced the Water Industry Act 1991 (Amendment) (Payment of Fines) Bill to Parliament. This aims to prevent water companies from securing payment delays to fines they have been issued with. The Second Reading is scheduled for 8 May.