Over £10m in water company fines will be channelled into local cleanup projects to repair the damage done by sewage.
Through the Water Restoration Fund, money from fines handed to five water companies will fund 51 projects across England, from active measures such as rewilding and restoring floodplains to funding for assessments of water quality and development of improvement plans.
Anglian Water, South West Water, Thames Water, Yorkshire Water and United Utilities were forced to pay millions after causing pollution incidents between April 2022 and October 2023.
From restoring riverbeds in Exmoor National Park to tackling septic tank spills into Windermere, these projects will restore precious habitats, improve flood resilience and enable local wildlife to thrive.
Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said: “I share people’s anger at the damage caused by sewage pollution and want communities to once again feel they can take pride in their environment.
“This money from water company fines will be directed back into local projects to tackle pollution and support long-term plans for nature restoration.
“Under our Plan for Change we’re resetting the water industry – holding water companies to account and reinvesting in areas harmed by their rule breaking.”
Projects, which span the length and breadth of the country, include a £1.2 million floodplain and river restoration project on the River Witham in Lincolnshire, as well as river restoration, nutrient capture and wetland creation in the Evenlode catchment in Oxfordshire.
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