Lib Dem MP says near £50 million fine ‘proof Yorkshire Water is broken’
The Lib Dem MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, Tom Gordon, has said a £47 million fine levied on Yorkshire Water for discharging untreated sewage into rivers as ‘proof the water industry in its current form is utterly broken.’
The water regulator Ofwat announced the fines against Yorkshire Water, Northumbrian Water and Thames Water on the 6th of August, for severe mismanagement of wastewater treatment works, including storm overflows. These are only intended to be used in exceptional circumstances, but Ofwat’s investigation found that they were being overused.
The investigation also found that the companies had failed to properly maintain and upgrade their infrastructure at these treatment works, which contributed to the issues for which they were fined.
Commenting, Tom said:
“This fine is the consequences of what we already knew: Yorkshire Water is failing to fulfil its obligations to its customers and our environment. It is a damning indictment on the state of our rivers, a direct result of the neglect that Yorkshire Water has subjected them to. It is very welcome to see the regulator finally taking action.
“This is proof that Yorkshire Water is broken. Now we need more and further action from the government. The previous Conservative government did not take the action against water companies such as Yorkshire Water that is so desperately needed.
“Whilst the £47million fine is symbolic, its imposition shows many of the flaws in our system. Ofwat should not be approving plans allowing water companies to hike bills on consumers whilst Yorkshire Water and others continue to fail to deliver. We need to see an end to bonuses and shareholder payouts.”
ENDS
You can find Ofwat’s press release on the fines here: Thames, Yorkshire and Northumbrian Water face £168 million penalty following sewage investigation - Ofwat