UK Government Pledges to Cut Sewage Spills in Half by 2030

(Bloomberg) -- The UK government has made a new commitment to cut sewage pollution in half by 2030 as pressure to fix the industry ramps up.

This is the first such government pledge that includes a clear target, according to a statement late Saturday. 

Britain’s water sector has caused public outcry in recent years as aging infrastructure has allowed pollution from sewage to flow into waterways. In 2024, sewage spilled into seas and rivers reached a total duration of a record 3.6 million hours, or the equivalent of four centuries.

“It’s actually the most ambitious target any government has had to reduce sewage pollution,” Environment Secretary Steve Reed told Sky News on Sunday, adding that the government will seek to completely eliminate unauthorized spillages over the next decade. “We need to reform this sector from top to bottom.” 

Fixing the water industry and its aging infrastructure has been a difficult task as any increased spending would fall back on consumers at a time when controlling the cost of living is already topping the political agenda. At the same, major companies like Thames Water Utilities Ltd. face huge financial shortfalls. Thames Water is also racing to find ways of avoiding temporary nationalization.

When asked on the BBC Sunday if Thames Water should be placed into special administration, Reed said that “if it becomes necessary we are ready to take that action.” He added that the government has no plans to nationalize Thames Water, given the cost.

“As things stand, the company remains viable,” he said.

The new pledge to cut pollution comes in the lead up to a major report from the Independent Water Commission run by Jon Cunliffe, a former deputy governor at the Bank of England. The report due on Monday is set to outline ways to overhaul the sector, including the regulator Ofwat, which scrutinizes companies and their performance.

The government also went further on phosphorus pollution, pledging to reduce by 50% the amount entering waterways through treated wastewater by 2028.

(Updates with comments by Environment Secretary starting in fourth paragraph.)

©2025 Bloomberg L.P.