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

Water bosses could be jailed if they cover up sewage dumping under new law

EA SPORTS Environment Ofwat England Prison Wales
A pipe discharging into a river
Campaigners and experts said the announcement did not go far enough, and that the whole system needed to change as it had ‘failed’. Photograph: Maureen McLean/Rex/Shutterstock

Water bosses in England and Wales could be jailed for up to two years if they cover up sewage dumping, under legislation proposed by the Labour government.

At the moment, CEOs of water companies face fines for failing to comply with investigations by the Environment Agency (EA) and the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI), but there have been just three such fines since privatisation three decades ago.

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