Defra announces record EA budget under Water (Special Measures) Act enforcement powers
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced that the Environment Agency (EA) will receive £189m for water regulation in 2025/2026, representing a 64% increase from 2023/2024. The funding, derived from water company charges under the Water (Special Measures) Act, enables expanded enforcement powers including cost recovery levies and criminal prosecutions. The EA has launched 81 criminal investigations since July 2024 and plans 10,000 water company asset inspections this year. The Act introduces new enforcement mechanisms including executive liability for pollution cover-ups.