Source: Sharecast
The probes, led by the Environment Agency, came amid mounting political and public pressure to hold firms accountable for repeated breaches of environmental permits, such as discharging excessive pollution into rivers or failing to monitor water quality.
Thames Water, Britain’s largest water supplier, was reportedly under investigation in 31 cases - more than any other firm - while Anglian Water was subject to 22 investigations.
Both were among 11 companies being scrutinised under a new enforcement drive backed by the Water (Special Measures) Act 2025, which enables tougher penalties including multimillion-pound fines and potential prison sentences for executives who obstruct investigations or cover up environmental violations.
The surge in enforcement marked a 145% increase in the monthly rate of criminal probes compared with the previous government, which faced criticism for cutting Environment Agency funding and failing to prosecute offenders effectively.
Since the Labour government took office, the regulator has hired around 400 additional staff and quadrupled inspections, with 10,000 checks planned for the coming year.
Environment secretary Steve Reed said the government was determined to ensure law-breaking water companies “finally face consequences”, describing the record investigations as part of efforts to “clean up the foul mess” left behind by years of inaction.
Campaigners welcomed the tougher stance but warned that planned cuts to the regulator’s budget could undermine progress, with environmental groups calling for sustained resources to tackle what they describe as systemic pollution across the sector.
Thames Water, which is struggling under £20bn of debt and seeking new investment to avoid collapse, declined to comment.
Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.