Northumbrian Water accused of underreporting sewage pollution.

Northumbrian Water is accused of not complying with environmental laws and regulators’ reporting responsibilities. This could leave millions of customers in the Northeast of England owed money if the case is won. Northumbrian Water is accused of breaking competition law by misleading the Environment Agency and water company regulator Ofwat about the number of untreated sewage spills and discharges they made into rivers, lakes, the sea and other waterways.

"United Utilities ‘misreported sewage pollution’ and received £5m bonus."

BBC Panorama said it has leaked documents suggesting that more than 60 cases were wrongly downgraded to the lowest level, meaning they are not counted as pollution incidents in the official figures. These incidents are often sewage discharges caused by blockages or equipment failure which can kill wildlife and endanger human health.

"Anglian water given two star rating by Environment Agency for third year running after 300 sewage pollution incidents."

The annual report highlights 307 sewerage pollution incidents (or 40 pollution incidents from sewerage assets per 10,000km) and 11 serious incidents from sewerage assets, as the main reasons for the rating.

"Severn Trent hit with £2m fine for pollution."

BBC Panorama said it has leaked documents suggesting that more than 60 cases were wrongly downgraded to the lowest level, meaning they are not counted as pollution incidents in the official figures. These incidents are often sewage discharges caused by blockages or equipment failure which can kill wildlife and endanger human health.

"Stark' warning issued to Welsh Water over sewage pollution."

Natural Resources Wales has issued a warning to Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water after parts of its performance worsened year-on-year. The total number of pollution incidents increased by around 20% compared to 2022, with the company responsible for 107 in 2023.

This number had been slowly but steadily decreasing since 2015 but began rising again in 2021. NRW said it was "disappointing" that the improvement on this metric was not sustained… Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water provides drinking water and wastewater sewerage to the majority of Wales.

"Faecal bacteria found in water supply in EIGHT more UK regions."

Devon isn't the only part of the UK battling against a tainted water supply - with 'faecal bacteria' now present in several other regions. As per the DWI, the following water authorities are now battling with cases of ‘faecal matter’ in the drinking supply: Severn Trent Water, Anglian Water, United Utilities, Northumbria, Essex and Suffolk Water, Thames Water, Bristol Water, DWR Cymru Welsh Water.

"Pennon Group will not achieve 2024 four-star environment rating - bosses."

The company behind South West Water and Bristol Water has abandoned its goal of a four-star environmental performance rating in 2024. The Pennon Group said it did not think it would achieve the result until 2025, blaming "current operating conditions". It said it expected to achieve a two-star rating for the second year in a row.

"Major incident’ declared in Surrey as thousands lose water supply and supermarkets sell out."

A major incident has been declared as thousands of people have been left without water due to “ongoing problems” at a Thames Water treatment works.

"Boil your water’ warning as parasite causes outbreak of vomiting and diarrhoea in South Devon."

Residents in south Devon have been told to boil water before drinking it after dozens of suspected cases of sickness and diarrhoea caused by a microscopic parasite...

"Yorkshire Water must improve after serious pollution incidents."

The company was downgraded from a three-star rating to two out of four in the Environment Agency's Environmental Performance Assessment (EPA) for 2023. It was also among four of England's nine water companies to be rated red, meaning "significantly below target", after five serious pollution incidents.

Yorkshire Water said it was "certainly not the outcome we want" and it had a "robust improvement plan in place". Thames Water, Anglian Water and Southern Water also received red ratings.

Water bosses ordered to clean up tap supplies

Scottish Water has been ordered to carry out an emergency clean-up of tap water supplies after they were found to pose a ‘potential danger to human health’.

Nearly 3,000 storage sites are to be drained as part of a huge programme of work amid fears they may harbour potentially lethal bacteria and other pollutants.

Watchdogs intervened following a series of alerts, including one in which animal remains were found at the bottom of a tank supplying thousands of homes in Ayrshire.

Tap water warning in Uist and Benbecula over ‘oily taste’

People in parts of the Western Isles have been told not to use their water supply after it was contaminated by a fuel leak.

Three schools in Benbecula and South Uist have been closed and local health services have been disrupted. Scottish Water said about 1,000 properties were affected, with their water having an oily smell and taste. The utilities company said the problem had been traced to a leak from a back-up generator for a pumping station.

Scottish Water said the contamination would take several days to clear and has made bottled water available.

"Children sent home after potentially deadly bacteria found in school water supply."

Ardrossan Academy closed as a “precautionary measure” after the council’s water-quality monitoring team detected traces of legionella bacteria in the system.

A full clean, flush and disinfect of the entire water supply within the building was undertaken and follow-up testing is planned.

The school was reopened for classes and exams on Wednesday, however, the council confirmed the area where legionella was found will remain closed until test results confirm the bacteria is no longer present.