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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Business
Helena Horton Environment reporter

Serious pollution incidents by English water companies rose 60% last year

Pollution Thames Water England Southern Water Thames Yorkshire Water
Brown scum and debris on the River Thames
Scum and debris on the River Thames. The head of Thames Water confirmed this week that it had asked to be let off paying fines. Photograph: Geoffrey Swaine/Rex/Shutterstock

Serious pollution incidents by water companies were up 60% last year compared with the year before, data has revealed.

These incidents are the most environmentally damaging and indicate that the sewage spill or other pollution incident has a serious, extensive or persistent impact on the environment, people or property. They could, for example, result in mass fish deaths in rivers.

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