Our position on working with water companies

The state of our rivers and water environment

The health of rivers and the wider water environment across the south east and the UK is in a critical state. No single stretch of river in England is classified as being in good overall health.

Rivers and the water environment face multiple, interconnected pressures. Pollution from sewage, agriculture and urban run-off, physical modifications such as habitat loss and weirs which are often obsolete and create barriers, and unsustainable abstraction have all contributed to this decline. As a result, only around 15% of rivers in England meet good ecological health standards.

This is unacceptable and requires urgent, sustained action.

Pollution, abstraction and environmental harm

Contaminants enter rivers and the wider water environment and cause pollution, harming wildlife, communities and public trust. These come from sewage discharges, agricultural run-off and urban sources.

At the same time, unsustainable abstraction reduces flows across catchments, placing further stress on already vulnerable ecosystems and undermining long-term water resilience.

Water companies have a legal responsibility to manage both waste water and water resources, yet we continue to see unacceptable levels of pollution and environmental harm. In addition, varying interpretation of the law and regulation has led to a system where they have not been held to account as strongly as we believe is necessary.

In short, damage has been caused and accountability has too often fallen short.

Our stance on accountability

We will not accept this level of environmental harm. We do not accept or excuse these failures.

Water companies and all polluters must be held accountable for the damage caused to our rivers and the wider water environment. They must take responsibility for delivering meaningful, measurable environmental improvement.

Who we are and what we do

As an independent environmental charity, the South East Rivers Trust operates in the public interest and exists to improve river health and strengthen the resilience of the wider water environment.

We are a solutions-focused organisation, taking action to restore rivers using evidence, data and expertise.

Why we work with water companies

We work with water companies because they are responsible for a significant share of the pressures facing the water environment and because they control substantial investment through customer bills.

This is public money, paid by all of us, and it must be used effectively to protect and improve the environment.

Our role is to ensure that this investment delivers the greatest possible benefit. We use our expertise to influence where and how money is spent so that it supports water and ecosystem resilience, avoids further environmental harm, and delivers more holistic outcomes for nature and communities.

Without this influence, there is a risk that investment is less effective or continues to be directed in ways that do not achieve the best outcomes for the environment.

Driving better outcomes for the water environment

By working with water companies, we are better able to guide this investment towards the right places and approaches. This strengthens both delivery and accountability.

We challenge decisions using evidence and on-the-ground expertise, pushing for better targeting, better implementation and stronger environmental outcomes.

This is not an endorsement of their performance. It is about securing real, measurable improvements where they are most needed.

Our role as a critical friend

We act as a critical friend. We constructively challenge poor performance, do not excuse it, and expect clear, measurable progress.

We proactively work with water companies to ensure that their environmental investment is targeted where it will deliver the greatest benefit for rivers, catchments and the wider water environment.

This includes supporting approaches that build long-term resilience, improve water quality and quantity, and deliver sustainable outcomes for both people and nature.

Ensuring accountability and transparency

At the same time, we hold firm on accountability. We ensure that the resources already allocated to environmental improvement are used effectively, transparently and at pace.

Different organisations play different roles in securing change. We recognise the importance of public scrutiny and campaigning in raising awareness and holding the sector to account.

Our role is to ensure that action is also delivered by converting commitments into lasting improvements for rivers, the wider water environment and the communities that depend on them.