Almost all of England's water companies are under criminal investigation as a 'record' 81 probes into environmental breaches have been launched by the Government.
The number of criminal investigations into illegal sewage spills and other breaches of environmental permits has more than doubled since last July.
It is the result of a 400 per cent surge in spot checks at water company premises and rivers by the Environment Agency in the past year.
Environment Secretary Steve Reed said the Government will ensure 'water companies who break the law will finally be punished for their disgraceful behaviour' as part of efforts to clean up England's rivers, lakes and seas.
There has been widespread anger over the polluted and degraded state of the country's waterways, as well as rising bills, high dividends, and executive pay and bonuses at the UK's privatised water firms.
