Water company bosses ‘face up to two years in jail’ as part of crackdown on sewage dumping

WATER company bosses could face up to two years in jail as part of a crackdown on sewage dumping.

Environment Secretary Steve Reed said the Government was taking “immediate action” to stop chiefs trousering huge bonuses while waste was discharged into seas and rivers.

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Steve Reed said the Government was taking ‘immediate action’ to stop water company chiefs getting huge bonuses while waste is discharged into seas[/caption]

He said: “Water executives will no longer line their own pockets while pumping out this filth.

“If they refuse to comply, they could end up in the dock and face prison time.”

There is growing anger at firms who have paid millions to execs and shareholders while underinvesting in fixing leaky pipes, waste systems and building new reservoirs.

Mr Reed claimed the Government’s new Water Bill will make it easier for the regulator to ban bonus payments for bosses if they fail to meet environmental standards.

The regulator will also be able to act if firms do not provide adequate consumer service or remain financially sound.

The bill comes after £1.69million was paid in bonuses to bosses at Thames Water, Yorkshire Water and Northumbrian Water in the past year — despite the firms being fined a record £168million for breaking sewage rules.

An investigation by The Sun on Sunday found that if those bonuses were clawed back more than 20,000 households could be spared a looming water bill increase.

At the moment the maximum penalty on directors is just £300 and regulators have a high “beyond reasonable doubt” burden of proof for even moderate offences.