Ministers want to 'make polluters pay', after more than 300,000 waste spills in England's waterways last year.
Water companies could face unlimited fines for dumping sewage, under government plans expected to be announced in the coming days.
This represented a 19% decrease from 2021 - but the Environment Agency put the drop largely down to drier weather, rather than the actions of water companies. Water UK, which represents the water industry, said this was the fourth year that spill figures had come down, and that firms were "committed to building on this positive news".Sewage entered rivers and seas 825 times a day
Currently, such money goes to the Treasury - but the plans will see money instead funnelled to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs . Responding to Friday's figures on sewage spills, Labour said the government had allowed waterways to be treated as "open sewers".
Österreich Neuesten Nachrichten, Österreich Schlagzeilen
Similar News:Sie können auch ähnliche Nachrichten wie diese lesen, die wir aus anderen Nachrichtenquellen gesammelt haben.
Water firms to face unlimited fines for polluting - as environment secretary accused of 'national scandal'Environment Secretary Therese Coffey is expected to announce plans next week to introduce tougher fines for polluting but opposition politicians have called for her to resign, accusing the government of 'turning Britain's waterways into an open sewer'.
Weiterlesen »
Kempston butchers to close after 91 years in businessClive Ashpole says he faced a 300% increase in his fuel costs this year.
Weiterlesen »
Ministers given new guidance on WhatsApp useIt follows concerns over use of the messaging app for government business during the pandemic.
Weiterlesen »
Ministers and civil servants face near-ban on 'government by WhatsApp' after Matt Hancock leaksNew rules by the Cabinet Office state that government business must not be conducted on personal phones, or on WhatsApp, unless there are 'exceptional circumstances'
Weiterlesen »
UK car industry facing decline unless ministers find subsidies to save jobs'Last throw of the dice' for car workers unless Government boosts backing for car firms to go green
Weiterlesen »
Sewage dumped into English and Welsh rivers 824 times a day last year despite dry weatherLatest figures show a 19% decrease in sewage being poured into rivers, but campaigners and ministers insist that with more than 300,000 discharges a year , water companies must do more
Weiterlesen »