UK Environment Agency Receives Record Budget for Water Regulation

The UK Government has allocated the largest ever budget of over £189 million to the Environment Agency for water pollution regulation in the 2024/25 financial year.

• Funding increase of 64% since 2023/24, fully sourced from charges on water companies, not taxpayers, ensuring polluters pay for enforcement.
• Introduction of the Water (Special Measures) Act enabling new levies to recover enforcement costs, alongside plans for 10,000+ inspections and 6,000 farm inspections annually by 2029 to reduce pollution.
  This funding boost strengthens enforcement capabilities and supports modernization efforts to clean UK waterways, with further legislation planned based on Independent Water Commission recommendations.