The UKs water companies have been told by the Environmental Agency (EA) to increase their efforts towards a more environmentally-friendly industry, it has emerged.The agency said that water companies should continue to do more to reduce water wastage and the level of pollution, as well as the drive to push down consumer demand.Director of water management at the EA, David King, said There is a lot to commend in the proposals from the water companies.However, we are keen to see more detail on their plans for capital maintenance. We need to be reassured that such investment is in the right areas to protect the environment and will deliver value for money.The agency states that water companies are responsible for around 20 per cent of all serious pollution incidents, largely owing to poor infrastructure.Consumers have a key role to play in lessening the negative environmental impact of water usage. Many of the taps available on the market from innovative manufacturers such as Franke and Grohe offer boiling water output, reducing the water and energy used in kettles for example.In addition, waste disposal units can reduce the harmful impact of food waste in the water system, as smaller particles are more easily dealt with by the drainage and sewerage infrastructure across the country.The Environment Agency was established in 1995 and has around 12,000 staff working with an annual budget of almost 900 million towards several key environmental objectives such as protecting the population from the risk of flooding, caring for wildlife and aiding businesses in making the most efficient use of their resources.