Water company executives could lose their bonuses if their companies cause environmental damage, such as illegal sewage spills, according to UK Environment Secretary Stephen Barclay. The proposal is part of a push for water company bosses to take more responsibility for their firms’ actions. The regulator, Ofwat, will consult on the proposal later this year to determine if it should proceed and what types of incidents would lead to bonus losses. If approved, the plan would affect bonuses for the financial year 2024/25 and apply to water companies in England and Wales. New regulations also give Ofwat the power to fine firms up to 10% of their turnover for poor customer service. Public concern over the health of UK water bodies has increased in recent years, particularly regarding the discharge of raw sewage. Last year, executives from five of the 11 water companies dealing with sewage received bonuses, while those at the remaining six companies chose to forgo them following pressure from campaigners.
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