Cleaning Up Oldham’s waterways

For too long, water companies have treated our rivers, lakes and seas dumping grounds while dodging accountability and handing out bonuses to their billionaire bosses.

New powers introduced under the Water (Special Measures) Act 2025 mean water company executives who cover up illegal sewage dumping can now face up to two years in prison. This is a long-overdue move to tackle the Tory scandal of sewage being discharged into our rivers, lakes and seas – often without consequences for those responsible.

In 2024 alone, there were 632 sewage discharges into waterbodies in Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton from 23 storm overflows. In total, these sewage discharges lasted for 3,659 hours. We should be able to enjoy our waterways, not watch them build up with sewage. Our town deserves better.

Under the new law, water company executives who obstruct investigations or hide illegal activity can face prosecution. Polluters will now pay for the cost of criminal investigations into their wrongdoing – not the public.

Bonuses for water bosses will also be blocked if they fail to meet high environmental, financial, and consumer standards, and the Environment Agency will have expanded powers to investigate and enforce action against illegal sewage discharges.

𝙉𝙚𝙬 𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙖 𝙘𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙢𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙖𝙜𝙚: 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙪𝙥 𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙜𝙖𝙡 𝙨𝙚𝙬𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙙𝙪𝙢𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙪𝙥 𝙗𝙚𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙖𝙧𝙨. That’s how it should be.

This comes alongside Labour’s £104bn of private sector investment to rebuild and upgrade our water system, and an Independent Commission into the water sector – the largest review since privatisation.

During my time as Shadow Environment Secretary, I pushed for exactly this kind of tough enforcement. It’s right that polluters pay for the damage they cause – and for the investigations into their own wrongdoing.

This is a step in the right direction towards serious reform. The public deserve clean water, environmental justice, and a water system that works for people – not one for profit and corporate greed.