How Andersons Tankering Services Are Ready to Help
As the government takes stronger action to tackle water pollution, the spotlight on England’s water companies has never been brighter. Recent proposals set out by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) are designed to make fining polluters quicker, easier and more consistent and they could transform how water authorities manage risk and compliance.
For companies working across water and wastewater management, this is not just a regulatory shift; it’s a cultural one. With automatic fines, tougher reporting standards, and public accountability now in focus, the industry will increasingly need reliable, capable tankering partners to help keep systems running safely and transparently.
That’s where Andersons Waste Management is ready to step in.
A New Era of Accountability in Water Management
The government’s proposals, now out for a six-week public consultation, will make it much simpler for the Environment Agency (EA) to issue penalties when rules are breached.
Under the new plans, automatic fines of up to £20,000 could be issued for minor offences, such as failing to report a spill within four hours, incomplete monitoring data, or repeated discharges from emergency overflow outlets.
For more serious breaches, the system would lower the burden of proof from the criminal standard of “beyond reasonable doubt” to the civil standard of “on the balance of probabilities.” This means the EA could fine companies more quickly, with penalties rising to as much as £500,000 without needing to go through a lengthy court process.
These changes come after years of public frustration and mounting evidence that water pollution incidents have gone under-enforced.
Investigations by the BBC revealed that the EA attended only around 13% of reported pollution events, often relying on company-supplied data. Meanwhile, new monitoring systems now track all sewage outflows in England, showing the levels of raw sewage discharges in real time.
For water companies, the message is clear: Prevention, transparency and fast, competent action are now essential. That’s where experienced tinkering service partners like Andersons can make all the difference.
Bridging the Gap: How Andersons Tankering Contractor Services Support Water Authorities
Andersons Waste Management has long supported local councils, utility providers, and environmental authorities with their flooding, tankering, and water management services. This experience puts them in a strong position to help water companies navigate the tougher expectations that lie ahead.
From emergency tankering to flood response, drainage management, and infrastructure support, the Andersons team combines practical expertise with professionalism. Our fleet of specialist vehicles and trained operatives can be deployed rapidly to ease pressure on sewer networks, respond to incidents, and help prevent untreated discharges before they cause environmental harm.
Responsive Tankering Support When It’s Needed Most
During heavy rainfall or plant overflows, our tankers can be mobilised at short notice to manage excess volumes, ensuring that treatment works and pumping stations continue to operate efficiently.
In a future where even minor discharges could result in automatic fines, that level of responsive capacity could be vital in protecting both the environment and a company’s compliance reco
Pollution Incident and Emergency Response
The proposals make clear that failure to report incidents promptly will now attract penalties. Our experienced teams already work to exacting reporting and safety standards, offering immediate response to spills, blockages, and containment breaches.
By partnering with Andersons, water companies can demonstrate they have robust contingency plans and qualified responders ready to act.
Supporting Infrastructure and Preventive Maintenance
Beyond emergency response, Andersons provides support for planned maintenance and upgrades to drainage networks, pump stations and treatment systems. This preventative approach, ensuring systems remain in good working order, aligns with the government’s emphasis on prevention and accountability.
Meeting the New Standards Together
With automatic fines potentially generating £50–£67 million a year, and with the government confirming that shareholders will shoulder the cost, the drive for operational reliability has never been stronger.
Water companies are under pressure to show the public, regulators, and investors that they are taking meaningful action to prevent pollution.
Andersons’ combination of technical expertise, rapid response capability, and long-standing partnership experience makes us an ideal collaborator for companies looking to strengthen their compliance and resilience strategies.
In practical terms, we can help:
- Reduce the likelihood of pollution incidents through proactive maintenance and drainage management.
- Minimise environmental impact during emergencies with fast on-site deployment.
- Provide accurate, timely reporting to support regulatory transparency.
- Offer flexible tankering and pumping capacity without the overheads of owning standby fleets.
This isn’t simply about avoiding fines, it’s about building a more responsive, environmentally sustainable water network that earns public trust.
Looking Ahead: Building Partnerships That Protect Our Waterways
The government’s consultation marks the start of a new chapter in water management, one that rewards preparedness and transparency. For water companies and authorities, the next few years will demand not just technical solutions, but trusted partnerships with organisations who understand the practical realities on the ground.
At Andersons, that understanding runs deep. With decades of experience in flood response, waste management and drainage services, we are ready to help water companies across the Southwest meet the moment and move towards a cleaner, more sustainable future for our rivers and communities.
Work With Andersons Tankering Services
If you represent a water company, environmental authority or infrastructure provider looking to strengthen your operational resilience, Andersons Waste Management can help.
Get in touch today to find out more about our emergency response, tankering and drainage management services and see how partnering with a trusted, experienced team can help your organisation stay ahead of the regulatory curve.
