Environmental campaigners in Bedford have welcomed what they describe as a long-overdue strengthening of the Environment Agency’s powers and workforce to tackle river pollution.
BedsGOVET, a local voluntary group that monitors water quality and pollution in Bedford’s waterways, said it “can only applaud” efforts to improve the effectiveness of the regulator, following the announcement of the largest-ever expansion of the Environment Agency’s water enforcement teams.
Alan Horn, Chair of BedsGOVET, said: “BedsGOVET can only applaud all efforts to improve the effectiveness of the Environment Agency and its work on improving river water quality. Let’s hope that the Devil is not in the detail.
“We work closely with the Environment Agency and, like them, have been disappointed by the previous lame attempts by successive governments to deal with the total apathy of water companies.”
BedsGOVET has been active locally in highlighting concerns about sewage discharges into the River Great Ouse and surrounding waterways. The group recently reported what it described as illegal dry day dumping in Bedford.
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Mr Horn said the Environment Agency was able to confirm that misleading data had been provided by Anglian Water because the company did not realise a monitor “had been malfunctioning for 10 months”.
“Unbelievable! That is a clear example of what we are dealing with,” he said.
“So, power to the Environment Agency – we will continue to work closely with them to identify sources of pollution in our river. Let’s hope the government starts to put the public’s health before water company profits and give the Environment Agency all the power it needs.”
Largest ever enforcement expansion
The comments come after the Environment Agency announced it has increased its water enforcement workforce almost fivefold, from 41 roles in 2023 to 195 by March 2026, with further increases planned later this year.
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In the Anglian region, five additional water industry regulation teams have been established since 2024 to hold Anglian Water to account. These teams carry out site inspections, check compliance with permits, collect samples and gather evidence for enforcement action.
Since 01 April 2025, the new regulatory teams have completed more than 1,500 compliance inspections at Anglian Water wastewater sites. According to the Environment Agency, there are more inspections than in the previous six years combined.
Those inspections have identified more than 900 actions requiring improvement.
Marcus Sibley, Environment Agency Water Industry Regulation Manager covering Anglian Water, said the company is currently rated “below average” with two stars out of four in its most recent 2024 environmental performance assessment.
“Significant improvement is required to meet the expected standards to better protect the environment and communities,” he said.
National picture
Nationally, the Environment Agency says it has completed more than 8,000 of its 10,000 planned water company inspections for 2025/26, resulting in more than 4,700 individual improvement actions.
Water enforcement activity last year led to more than £6.9 million in enforcement undertakings paid by water companies for environmental law breaches, with the money redirected to environmental improvements.
The expansion is backed by a record £153 million budget for water enforcement this financial year, funded in part through a strengthened “polluter pays” approach, meaning water companies cover the costs of enforcement, including investigations.
Read: Anglian Water found guilty of failing to provide treatment records
The changes also build on new powers introduced through the Water (Special Measures) Act 2025, which include cost recovery for enforcement and prison sanctions for obstruction, with further civil penalties and tighter monitoring expected to follow.
While the Environment Agency describes the move as part of a tougher regulatory culture, campaigners in Bedford say the real test will be whether it leads to lasting improvements in river water quality.
For BedsGOVET and others concerned about sewage discharges in Bedfordshire, the message is clear: stronger enforcement is welcome, but the focus must now be on results.
