Yorkshire Water given lowest rating after pollution incidents rise

Summarised from 2 outlets · 3 reports · Updated 30 Oct, 11:00 · Archive

Yorkshire Water has been downgraded to a one-star environmental rating by the Environment Agency after 13 serious pollution incidents.

Yorkshire Water has been downgraded to a one-star environmental performance rating by the Environment Agency, marking the first time the company has received the lowest possible rating since the assessment began in 2011. The company fell from a two-star rating the previous year. The regulator recorded 13 serious pollution incidents involving Yorkshire Water during 2025, the second-highest total in England behind Thames Water's 24 incidents.

Yorkshire Water was one of four water companies to receive the lowest rating, alongside Southern Water, South West Water and Thames Water. Across England, the nine water and sewerage companies achieved just 16 stars out of a possible 36, down from 19 in 2024 and the lowest total since the EPA began. Environment Agency chair Alan Lovell said the findings "expose the scale of underperformance across the sector".

Chief executive Nicola Shaw announced her resignation on 30 October, 24 hours after the rating was announced, following almost five years in post. She will be replaced by Nicola Medalova, former chief operating officer of National Grid New England, who will officially take up the role on 1 January 2027. Medalova will join the company on 2 November for a handover period. Yorkshire Water said the leadership change formed part of a "planned succession process". The Darlington & Stockton Times reports that pollution incidents at Yorkshire Water rose from 151 in the previous year to 260 in 2025, a rise of more than 70 per cent and the highest total since 2011.

How it is being reported

• Yorkshire Water CEO steps down after firm given lowest possible environmental ratingThe chief executive of Yorkshire Water, Nicola Shaw, has stepped down.Darlington & Stockton Times · 30 Oct, 10:33
• Yorkshire Water boss announces resignation 24 hours after firm given shocking ratingYorkshire Water has announced that its top boss will step down at the end of the year, just 24 hours after the company was handed its lowest-ever environmental performance rating.The Northern Echo · 30 Oct, 09:13
• Yorkshire Water handed lowest environment rating as watchdog notes pollution failuresYorkshire Water receives the Environment Agency’s lowest one-star rating after 13 serious pollution incidents, as England’s water sector records its worst EPA result.The Northern Echo · 29 Oct, 15:08

In this story: Yorkshire Water · Environment Agency · Nicola Shaw · Nicola Medalova · Thames Water · Southern Water

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