Eight of England’s nine water companies rated poor or requiring improvement
The story at a glance
Eight of England’s nine water and sewerage companies were rated either poor or requiring improvement for their 2025 environmental performance. The sector received 16 of a possible 36 stars, its lowest total since the assessment began in 2011. 13
The assessment recorded 74 serious pollution incidents and found that companies completed only 80.2% of planned environmental improvement schemes by their deadlines. The Environment Agency says tighter assessment standards contributed to the low star total, so it should not be read as a measure of deterioration alone. 1
What you need to know
- Four companies received a poor rating and four required improvement. Severn Trent Water was the only company to achieve four stars. Across the sector, the total was 16 out of 36, a record low since the Environment Agency began the assessment in 2011. 1
- There were 74 serious pollution incidents in 2025. Separately, the assessment recorded 2,666 pollution incidents from sewerage and water supply assets. That figure was slightly lower than in 2024, but the Environment Agency said it remained too high. 13
- Companies completed 80.2% of planned environmental improvement schemes by their deadlines in the financial year ending March 2026. This was the lowest completion percentage since the measure began in 2011. Thames Water accounted for 105 of the 124 overdue actions. 1
- The joint regulator report draws on information from 17 water companies across England and Wales. Its coverage combines data for the 2025 calendar year with data for the financial year ending March 2026, so its measures do not all refer to the same reporting period. 2
- The falling star total has more than one explanation. The Environment Agency points to both declining performance in some areas and tighter assessment thresholds. Meanwhile, the overall count of pollution incidents fell slightly year on year, even as serious incidents remained high. 13
Why this matters
The results show that pollution and missed deadlines for environmental improvements remain significant problems in England’s water sector. The distinction between serious incidents and the broader pollution count, as well as the effect of tougher rating standards, matters when interpreting whether performance is changing. 13
What happens next
The reporting leaves open whether companies will complete overdue and planned improvement schemes on schedule, and whether later assessments will show measurable gains in water quality and pollution. It also remains unresolved how much of the lower star total reflects changed performance rather than revised thresholds. 1
What we know
- The Environment Agency rated four companies poor, four requiring improvement and Severn Trent Water four stars. 1
- There were 74 serious pollution incidents in 2025, alongside 2,666 incidents from sewerage and water supply assets. The latter total was slightly lower than in 2024. 13
- The deadline completion rate for planned environmental improvement schemes was 80.2% in the financial year ending March 2026. Thames Water had 105 of the 124 overdue actions. 1
- The joint report covers 17 water companies across England and Wales, using data from the 2025 calendar year and the financial year ending March 2026. 2
What we don't know
- The reporting does not establish whether companies will complete overdue and newly planned environmental schemes on schedule. 1
- It is not yet clear whether subsequent assessments will show measurable improvements in water quality and pollution. 1
- The extent to which the record-low star total reflects underlying performance changes rather than tighter assessment thresholds remains uncertain. 13
Read the reporting
This WildNews briefing synthesises and summarises reporting from the sources below. WildNews did not produce the original reporting. Learn more about how we use AI
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