Wed, 22 Oct 2025

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 Fining firms for sewage spills will get 'quicker and easier', says government

The plans would see automatic fines for some offences and the burden of proof lowered for others.

* New proposals will make it quicker and easier to fine English water companies for spilling raw sewage, with automatic fines of up to £20,000 for minor offences.
* The Environment Agency has struggled to act on rule breaches despite data showing frequent spills, so new laws aim to give the agency "teeth" to tackle offenders.
* Proposed changes include: + Automatic fines for minor offences such as failing to report pollution incidents or maintain sewage treatment works. + Reduced burden of proof from "beyond a reasonable doubt" to "on the balance of probabilities" for more serious offences, allowing the EA to take action without needing to prove guilt beyond all doubt. + Increased maximum fines that can be imposed by the EA without going to court from £10,000 to £500,000.
* The proposals will be put to a six-week public consultation starting on Wednesday.
* English water companies have welcomed the proposals, but campaigners are calling for higher penalties and more urgent reform.
* The government estimates that the new system could raise between £50m and £67m per year.
  >>