Eight of nine English water firms rated poor or requiring improvement by regulators

The short version

• Regulators' first joint report says water companies' environmental performance fell again last year despite industry investment.[BBC News]
• Eight of nine English water companies were rated poor or requiring improvement, and the watchdog's ratings totalled 16 stars, down from 19.[BBC News · The Guardian]
• Environment Secretary Angela Eagle has summoned industry bosses to Whitehall, but the specific next steps are not detailed in the verified reporting.[The Guardian]

Key facts

• Eight of the nine water companies in England were rated poor or requiring improvement in a joint report by regulators.[BBC News · The Guardian]
• Environmental performance of water companies fell again last year despite industry investment, according to the first joint report by the regulators.[BBC News]
• There were 74 serious pollution incidents last year, one fewer than the previous year, according to the report.[The Guardian]
• The watchdog's environmental performance assessment ratings totalled 16 stars out of a possible 36, down from 19 the previous year and the lowest since the process began.[The Guardian]
• The Environment Agency said there were 2,666 pollution incidents in England in 2025, a 40% increase on 2016.[The Guardian]
• Environment Secretary Angela Eagle summoned water industry bosses to Whitehall after the report found worsened environmental performance at the big companies.[The Guardian]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• Water companies' environmental performance 'deteriorates' further - regulatorsBBC News - Science & Environment
• Eight of England’s nine water companies still failing on environment, report findsThe Guardian - World