The findings come after the EA completed a record 10,000 inspections nationally in the last 12 months.
Of the SWW sites investigated, the EA said 76% were found to be compliant with their permits.
Helen Wakeham, EA’s director for water said: “Inspections are a vital preventative measure, with our teams nationally issuing over 3,000 actions to water companies, including repairing sewage works and upgrading their infrastructure.
“Together, this will drive meaningful improvements in performance, hold persistent offenders to account and ultimately create a cleaner water environment.”
The authority added that “although many breaches in permit conditions were relatively minor, in terms of potential for pollution to occur” they were “indicative of a water company’s approach to managing and maintaining their operations to protect the environment”.
Other issues identified at SWW found chopped sewage was at risk of flowing into water during storms, the discovery of seeping liquids, missing emergency pumps and generators, faulty monitoring equipment and general poor maintenance in places, resulting in blocked channels, overgrown vegetation and sludge.
Price said SWW was tracking and fixing improvement actions highlighted to the firm.
He said: “We have positively engaged with the Environment Agency this year to support each and every visit from our local officers, with three in four sites being recognised as fully compliant and no major or serious issues being raised across all sites visited. All other improvement actions are being tracked and fixed.”
