No more limit in the taxation of polluters in the British capital. London announced on Wednesday its intention to remove the ceiling on administrative penalties, now set at 250,000 pounds (294,000 euros). And water companies are particularly targeted by this measure, because of their discharge of wastewater into the environment.
Environment Minister Therese Coffey says ‘polluters must always pay’, announces removal of ‘cap on administrative penalties’ and widening of ‘their scope to target a range of offenses much larger”. The British Environmental Agency and Natural England, two public bodies, will be able to act without going through “long and costly criminal proceedings, even if the most serious cases” will always be brought before the courts, assures the government in this press release.
Infrastructure that is too polluting
The government bill does not only concern water treatment companies but also other potentially polluting sectors of activity such as waste management or incinerators, specifies the executive.
But the water sector has been under fire for several years for the dumping of large quantities of wastewater into rivers and the sea, due in particular to a lack of investment in the water network. sewer which dates from the Victorian era (late 19th century). Improving infrastructure will cost billions of pounds, as companies in the UK sector have racked up more than £60 billion in debt since they were privatized in 1989 under Margaret Thatcher.
Debt-ridden Thames Water
The London water supplier Thames Water was fined 3.3 million pounds (3.9 million euros) last week for polluting waterways and causing the death of more than 1,000 people. Pisces. Heavily indebted, the company, which serves 15 million customers in London and the Thames Valley, announced on Monday new financing of 750 million pounds from its shareholders by 2025. The latter even foresees additional needs for around 2.5 billion pounds for the period 2025-2030.
According to the press, the British government, which says it is worried about the financial situation of Thames Water, is working in particular on an emergency plan which would allow it to regain control if necessary via a “special administration” regime. The executive had, however, assured that “the sector as a whole is financially resilient” and that the water supply “is protected”.