What is the point in fining water companies?

[Teeheehee1579]

I’ve been musing this evening whilst reading an article on the BBC regarding the fines that south west water are paying for polluting Devon rivers and wondering what the point is of the fines. Don’t get me wrong, it’s absolutely disgusting and I think whomever is in the chain of knowledge that allowed this to happen ought to face jail time or be personally hit financially but fining the actual water company - it goes to the treasury, is not reinvested in water and surely it just means that a sector that desperately needs some investment (rather than shareholder payouts) had even less money so two things will happen - less money for investment and water prices will simply rise to the end customer so ultimately we as the customer are the only losers. That was a ramble but can anyone tell me the point in them?!

It's to scare them into not doing it again. If they get away with misbehaving with no consequences then they have no incentive to change.

Like Zak Polanski said, it shouldn't just be a fine, the CEO & Directors should see the inside of a prison cell for polluting our rivers & seas as well as the water supplied to our taps, it is the only way to force them to do the right thing.

But this is the bit that I don’t get - why does fining a company scare them into not doing it again - it’s not the CEO or anyone else responsible who get personally hurt by the fine, it will be the end customer when even less investment goes into water and bills go up to cover the fine. It seems to me that a fine only ends up hurting us, the end customer. Prison/personal fines or whatever would seem more appropriate given these people have knowingly damaged an essential element of life would seem more appropriate. I doubt any of them personally give a shit about the fine. They have their bonuses.

For once I absolutely agree with him. Water is essential like nothing else. It’s a total disgrace for which the current fines will do absolutely nothing to incentivise change. I did look it up and the fine goes to the treasury who do not then put it back into investing in our water. It’s all fucked up isn’t it.

100% agree. I really believe that this is the only way anything will change as any fines they have to pay are just passed on to us anyway so of no actual consequence to them.

They should be in prison. It’s disgusting. I live in the SW and although they don’t supply me, they have in the past. SW water rates were among the highest in the country at the time and were always useless.

To have been polluting the waterways deliberately needs time in prison. As for the drinking water scandal, it’s shameful. They are a private company so the CEO should be prosecuted and locked up.

It's totally pointless. They will either put up charges or receive increased government subsidies to replace money lost in fines.

Campaigner Fergal Sharkey has pointed out there is a performance clause in water companies' contracts that enables the government to take them over without compensation in the event of poor performance. This should be happening now, and their boards tried and jailed for environmental and financial crimes.

I'm in Scotland and only pay an annual sewerage charge which is part of my council tax. My friend in Cornwall pays £160 a month for the same. It's profiteering and it needs to stop now.