Proposed water company fines would be a 'drop in the ocean' state Lib Dems

EMBARGO: 22:30 Tuesday 21st October 2025

Responding to news that Ministers are consulting on plans to give the Environment Agency more power to penalise water companies for rule-breaking, Tim Farron, Liberal Democrat Environment Spokesperson said:

“We are facing an emergency - people, our rivers and our seas have suffered for far too long. We don’t have time for endless consultations and discussion. Customers are seeing their water bills rocket, whilst leaky infrastructure further deteriorates and gallons of disgusting sewage is pumped into British rivers and seas. 

“These proposed fines would only be a drop in the ocean. Enough is enough. Liberal Democrats have long called for an end to the sewage scandal. This has to start with government action to replace Ofwat as quickly as possible, so that we have a new, powerful regulator in place with the teeth to hold water companies to account and clean up our precious rivers and seas.”

ENDS