Eco & Environment | Posted on October 23rd, 2025 | return to news

Environment Agency slams Wessex Water over pollution

Wessex Water has been told to improve after it was responsible for 215 pollution incidents in 2024 – 89 more than the previous year.

The water provider for Dorset has been told it must improve its environmental protections after it was responsible for 215 pollution incidents in 2024 – 89 more than the previous year.

Wessex Water’s performance rating was slashed from an industry-leading four stars to just two in the latest Environmental Performance Assessment (EPA) by the Environment Agency.

The agency warned that water companies across England must urgently improve their performance, as the 2024 EPA revealed the lowest ratings of water companies since the process began in 2011.

In fact, water companies in England achieve only 19 stars out of a possible 36, with serious pollution incidents up 60 per cent from 2023.

The EPA report is an independent comparison of environmental performance across the sector. Since 2011, the Environment Agency has used the EPA to rate each company in England from one to four stars, to highlight where improvement in water company performance is required.

In 2024’s report, Wessex Water hit its target in all other metrics but scored ‘red’ for its number of pollution incidents. This is significantly below target and puts the company at a two-star rating – requiring improvement. This is the third time Wessex Water has had a two-star rating in the history of the EPA. The Environment Agency inspected 422 Wessex Water sites and assets last year.

Ed Lockington, the Environment Agency’s water industry regulatory manager for Wessex, said: “It is disappointing to see Wessex Water lose its industry leading four-star rating after just a year. But excelling in all metrics except number of pollution incidents shows how high expectations are.

“Driving down the total number of pollution incidents will go a long way to meeting that expectation again.”

Responding to the report, Wessex Water highlighted that it had not recorded any serious Category 1 or 2 pollutions in 2024, and while overall pollution did increase, this was because the water company is now monitoring and detecting more.

A Wessex Water spokesperson said: “There were no serious pollutions in 2024, largely thanks to increased sewer monitoring and AI technology helping us detect and deal with potential issues on our network before the environment was put at risk.

“Coupled with our historic strong track record of self-reporting, we’ve seen an increase in the overall number of recorded pollutions and we’re extremely disappointed not to have maintained our four-star rating.

“We recognise there is a lot more do to, which is why we’re planning a step change in the maintenance of our sewerage network and a £300m investment in this area by 2030.”

According to the Environment Agency, performance criteria has been regularly tightened over the years to reflect rising expectations for water company performance, so the bar is higher than ever. Based on current criteria, the agency sees a steady trend of improvement since 2011 — but this year’s results mark a dip in that trend.

Environment Agency Chair Alan Lovell said: “This year’s results are poor and must serve as a clear and urgent signal for change.

“What is needed now from every water company is bold leadership, a shift in mindset, and a relentless focus on delivery.

“We will support them however we can but will continue to robustly challenge them when they fall short.”

The report cites a number of factors for the decline in performance, including the wet and stormy weather in 2024, underinvestment and poor maintenance of infrastructure, and increased monitoring and inspection.