Ofwat has accepted a £44.7M enforcement package of wastewater measures from Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water to reduce sewage spills.

It was previously announced on 12 March, that Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water had failed to “operate, maintain and upgrade its wastewater treatment works and networks adequately to ensure that they could cope with the flows of sewage and wastewater”.

Ofwat has now formally accepted an enforcement package which includes:

Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water will also be required to rectify all identified breaches and ensure future compliance with these regulations.

The organisation will be required to deliver the measures during the 2025-30 period, over and above any existing plans it has committed to as part of the 2024 Price Review.

These costs will also be absorbed by the company and not funded through higher customer bills.

The £44.7M package is greater than the £40M penalty that Ofwat would otherwise have imposed as a fine and ensures the money is spent directly on environmental improvements rather than returned to the Treasury.

Delivery of the package will be monitored by Ofwat and the undertakings are legally enforceable.

Ofwat began its enforcement investigation into Dŵr Cymru in July 2024.

Ofwat senior director for enforcement Lynn Parker said: “Our investigation found serious and unacceptable breaches in how Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water has operated its wastewater assets which has resulted in excessive spills to the environment.

“With this investigation now concluded, we expect the company to focus on putting things right so that customers can regain trust in their water company.”

Parker added: “We are playing our part in holding companies to account with this announcement marking the seventh case we have now closed in our sector-wide investigation, taking the total of resulting enforcement packages and fines to more than £300M.”

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