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A tanker pumping out excess sewage from the Lightlands Lane sewage pumping station in Cookham, Berskhire which flooded after heavy rainfall, January 10, 2024
BRITAIN’S three biggest water companies have been fined £168 million for sewage spills in the first results of a landmark probe into all 11 of England and Wales’ water firms.
Ofwat chief executive David Black branded Thames Water, Yorkshire Water and Northumbrian Water’s records of polluting rivers and waterways “a catalogue of failure” as they were ordered to pay penalties of £104m, £47m and £17m respectively.
“Our investigation has shown how they routinely released sewage into our rivers and seas, rather than ensuring that this only happens in exceptional circumstances as the law intends,” the head of the regulator said, insisting that the burden of the fines would fall on investors, rather than customers.
Channel 4’s Dirty Business shows why private companies cannot be trusted with vital services like water, says PAUL DONOVAN
