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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Business
Sandra Laville

Public could receive hundreds of millions as water firms face sewage lawsuit

Carolyn Roberts the Environment Agency Environment Ofwat United Utilities England Leigh Day Severn Trent Thames Water Pollution
A worker at Severn Trent Water treatment works, in Sawley, Nottinghamshire.
Severn Trent is the first of six water companies to face the class action claim. Photograph: David Sillitoe./The Guardian

The public could receive hundreds of millions of pounds in compensation in the first class action against water companies which are alleged to have failed to reveal the true scale of raw sewage discharges, and abused their position as privatised monopolies.

A collective case against six water companies alleges they have failed to properly report sewage spills and pollution of rivers and seas to the Environment Agency and Ofwat, the regulator for England and Wales. The first of six parallel claims is against Severn Trent Water on behalf of its 8 million customers. Claims against Thames Water, United Utilities, Anglian Water, Yorkshire Water and Northumbrian Water are being brought in the coming months.

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