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Yorkshire Water given lowest environmental rating
The downgrade blocks executive bonuses as regulators said Yorkshire Water logged 260 pollution incidents in 2025, up more than 70% from the year before.
On Thursday, October 28, 2026, the Environment Agency downgraded Yorkshire Water to a one-star rating, the lowest possible grade, following a sharp rise in pollution incidents during 2025.
A joint report by the Drinking Water Inspectorate, Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales and Ofwat revealed the sector's environmental performance fell to a record low in 2025, recording 2,991 pollution incidents across England and Wales.
While drinking water quality remains high, with 99.97% of tests meeting strict safety standards, the sector continues to lag on wastewater protection, marked by 84 serious pollution incidents in 2025.
Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle summoned water company bosses to Whitehall, as new rules triggered by the one-star rating automatically ban executives at failing firms from receiving performance-related bonuses.
Yorkshire Water has pledged an £8.3bn investment programme through 2030, including plans to upgrade more than 450 storm overflows to improve infrastructure and reduce pollution.