Only three people ever prosecuted for covering up England’s illegal sewage spills

Water companies dumped a record amount of sewage into rivers and coastal waters last year. Photograph: Richard Saker/The Observer

Water company bosses have entirely escaped punishment for covering up illegal sewage spills, government figures show, as ministers prepare to bring in a new law threatening them with up to two years in prison for doing so.

Only three people have ever been prosecuted for obstructing the Environment Agency in its investigations into sewage spills, officials said, and none received even a fine.