Thames Water and Anglian Water face 53 criminal investigations over sewage

A Thames Water sewage treatment works in London. The supplier topped the ccharts of active investigations at 31. Photograph: Neil Hall/EPA

Two of Britain’s biggest water companies, Thames Water and Anglian Water, face more than 50 criminal investigations between them as part of a crackdown on sewage dumping, the government has said.

The utilities were subject to the bulk of a record 81 investigations into water companies between last July’s general election and March 2025, according to new data.