Authorities Pledge to Address Various Sources of Water Contamination in England and Wales | Environmental Sector

Ministers in England and Wales have pledged to address various forms of water pollution, with an upcoming report on the water industry set to be released on Monday which is expected to recommend the abolition of Ofwat, the water industry regulator. The commitment announced by Steve Reed, the environment secretary, aims to emphasize that while sewage spills into waterways are concerning, runoff from farms and roads contribute significantly to pollution in rivers and other water bodies. The report, led by Sir Jon Cunliffe, a former deputy governor of the Bank of England, is also anticipated to spark new measures to tackle agricultural runoff, which can lead to high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus in rivers and create toxic algal blooms. Reed is expected to address the issue in a series of interviews following increasing pressure due to data showing an increase in serious pollution incidents involving water companies.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jul/19/ministers-tackle-water-pollution-england-wales