Press Statement: Rise in serious pollution incidents shows once again why rivers need regulators to step up
Statement in response to Environment Agency Chief Regulator’s Report
Rebecca Duncan
21/11/25
Today’s report makes grim reading for anyone concerned about the health of our natural environment, on which we all rely for food, water, prosperity and happiness. The rise in serious incidents of 9% generally and 60% in the water industry is attributed by the Environment Agency to an increase in inspections, rather than a deterioration in performance. If this is true, it reveals the sheer scale of major pollution incidents that have been going undetected for many years. The case for a well-funded, independent, effective environmental regulator has never been more compelling.
Mark Lloyd, Chief Executive