Environment Agency and Thames Water launch seven new regulation teams in South East

Waterways across the region will receive unprecedented levels of oversight as the Environment Agency deploys a record number of specialists for South East river protection.

The Environment Agency (EA) has assembled its largest-ever team of investigators, enforcement officers, and lawyers to tackle water pollution in the South East. As part of a national drive to build a tougher regulatory culture, the regulator has increased its water enforcement workforce fivefold since 2023. In the South East, seven new water industry regulation teams are now active, specifically tasked with holding Thames Water to account.

Strengthening South East river protection

These newly established teams have been deployed across the entire area served by Thames Water. Their primary focus is to check compliance with environmental permits, inspect sewage works, and collect samples for analysis. These efforts provide vital evidence to courts and legal teams to support enforcement action against illegal activity.

The expansion is backed by a record £153 million budget for water enforcement this financial year. Under a strengthened "polluter pays" approach, water companies are now required to cover the costs of these investigations. Karen Andrews, EA Water Industry Regulation Manager for Thames Water, said: “Thames Water is currently a poor performer, gaining only one star out of four in our most recent assessment. Significant improvement is required to meet the expected standards.”

Record levels of inspection and improvement

The surge in staffing has already delivered tangible results across the country. More than 8,000 of the 10,000 planned water company inspections for the 2025/26 financial year are now complete. These inspections have resulted in over 4,700 individual improvement actions, ranging from urgent infrastructure upgrades to repairs at sewage treatment works.

Water Minister Emma Hardy added: “These extra officers and inspectors are already out on the ground carrying out thousands of checks on water companies, helping to protect our rivers, lakes and seas and restore public confidence in the system.” The move has already contributed to a 4% decrease in permit breaches this year.

Toughened penalties for polluters

The EA is utilising stronger powers granted through the Water (Special Measures) Act 2025. These powers include cost recovery for enforcement and potential prison sentences for individuals who obstruct investigations. Helen Wakeham, EA Director for Water, stated: “Our teams will use a wide range of actions to hold water companies to account — from formal notices to civil penalties and prosecution.”

Increasing transparency for residents

As part of a commitment to transparency, the Environment Agency is now publishing all water industry Compliance Assessment Report (CAR) forms online. This gives residents greater visibility into how local water companies are assessed and how enforcement decisions are made. The initiative aligns with the government’s Water White Paper, a long-term plan to overhaul the water system and deliver stronger accountability.

Related Links:

MORE: Nature’s engineers return: New beaver releases approved for South West catchments — https://trendwiremedia.com/2026/02/07/natures-engineers-return-new-beaver-releases-approved-for-south-west-catchments/

MORE: New auction powers to fill long-term empty shops on Lambeth high streets — https://trendwiremedia.com/2026/02/07/new-auction-powers-to-fill-long-term-empty-shops-on-lambeth-high-streets/

MORE: New crackdown as illegal dumping costs taxpayers £500,000 — https://trendwiremedia.com/2026/02/06/new-crackdown-as-illegal-dumping-costs-taxpayers-500000/