On 18 November 2021 we and the Environment Agency announced investigations into all water and wastewater companies in England and Wales. This was after several water companies explained that they might not be treating as much sewage at their wastewater treatment works as they should be, and that this could be resulting in sewage discharges into the environment at times when this should not be happening.
Find out why Ofwat is investigating, what, how, and by when.
During the course of the investigation we have published a number of previous updates.
Latest update – March 2026
On 12 March 2026, Ofwat consulted on proposals to accept an £44.72m enforcement package following findings that Dŵr Cymru / Welsh Water breached its legal obligations in operating its wastewater treatment works and network.
For more information, please view our press notice on this update.