Water firms' sewage fines to be ringfenced for environmental protection, government confirms

Cecilia Keating
clock • 4 min read
Credit: iStock
Image:

Credit: iStock

But measure slammed by opposition politicians as 'a pathetic and insulting attempt to save face' amid growing outcry over sewage discharge into waterways

The government has announced it will directly invest money raised from fines imposed on water companies for polluting rivers into projects that improve the environment and water quality. In an announcement...

To continue reading this article...

Join BusinessGreen

In just a few clicks you can start your free BusinessGreen Lite membership for 12 months, providing you access to:

  • Three complimentary articles per month covering the latest real-time news, analysis, and opinion from Europe’s leading source of information on the Green economy and business
  • Receive important and breaking news stories via our daily news alert
  • Our weekly newsletter with the best of the week’s green business news and analysis

Join now

 

Already a BusinessGreen member?

Login

More on Policy

'First step in modernising': EU moves forward with ETS reforms in response to energy market shocks

'First step in modernising': EU moves forward with ETS reforms in response to energy market shocks

European Commission tables proposals to 'increase the firepower' of the EU ETS carbon permit reserve, sparking fears it could water down flagship carbon pricing scheme

Stuart Stone
clock 02 April 2026 • 4 min read
Environment Agency reports record number of water company inspections

Environment Agency reports record number of water company inspections

Agency reveals number of inspections more than doubled to over 10,000 last year, as crackdown on sewage pollution continues

James Murray
clock 30 March 2026 • 3 min read
Germany unveils €8bn climate package in bid to slash fossil fuel imports

Germany unveils €8bn climate package in bid to slash fossil fuel imports

Government estimates new programme can accelerate roll out of offshore wind, EVs, industrial decarbonisation projects, and nature restoration, saving 25 million tonnes of CO2 in 2030

Michael Holder
clock 26 March 2026 • 5 min read