Thousands of Serious Pollution Incidents Downgraded Without Site Visits
Exclusive data obtained through freedom of information requests suggests that the Environment Agency has downgraded thousands of serious pollution incidents by water companies in England without conducting on-site investigations. The figures, uncovered by whistleblower Robert Forrester, indicate a significant shift in regulatory practices that may compromise environmental protection efforts.
Sharp Increase in Downgrades Based on Water Company Evidence
According to the data, 2,778 serious pollution incidents were reported by water companies in 2024. Of these, a staggering 2,735 incidents, representing 98%, were downgraded to minor status by agency officials. Alarmingly, officers only attended 496 of these incidents before downgrading them; the remaining cases were reclassified as minor based solely on evidence provided by the water companies themselves.
This marks a nearly 1,500% increase from 2021, when only 174 incidents were downgraded, with 60 of those attended by officers. Out of the initial 2,778 serious incidents reported, the Environment Agency officially recorded just 75 as serious, which it claims is a 60% rise from 2023.
Whistleblower Exposes Regulatory Conflicts of Interest
Robert Forrester, a former Environment Agency employee with 21 years of experience, left the agency in January after years of raising concerns about its relationship with the water industry. He stated, "There is a significant increase in the serious incidents received by the agency but a huge increase in them being downgraded with no attendance by an officer. The key thing is that water companies are still controlling our attendance."
Forrester highlighted a troubling conflict of interest: for the 2025-26 financial year, the Environment Agency expects to receive approximately £149 million from water companies through permit charges and a new enforcement levy, out of a total budget of £189 million for water regulation. He argued that this funding model creates a cosy relationship, potentially loosening regulatory oversight.
Historical Context and Ongoing Controversies
Forrester first began exposing issues in 2017 when a report on the toxicity of sewage sludge was withheld from public scrutiny. This report, eventually published by Greenpeace in 2020, revealed that sewage waste contained dangerous pollutants at levels that may pose risks to human health. The unpublished report cited increased time pressures and reduced budgets as hindering regulation.
During his tenure, Forrester faced suspension and restricted duties, which he believes were due to suspicions of whistleblowing. In 2021, then-chief executive James Bevan warned staff against speaking to the media, a move criticised by whistleblowing charity Protect for discouraging transparency.
Agency Response and Future Implications
An Environment Agency spokesperson defended their approach, stating, "We receive 100,000 reports a year and respond to every water pollution incident, all of which are carefully assessed. We focus our resources on the most serious incidents using all our investigative tools, from real-time data to on-the-ground inspections." They added that increased budgets and powers are enabling more inspections and enforcement actions.
Now unemployed, Forrester plans to collaborate with campaigners to continue exposing sewage pollution and holding water companies accountable. This data underscores ongoing debates about regulatory effectiveness and environmental safety in England's water industry.
