Six major water companies in England, including Thames Water, Severn Trent, Northumbrian Water, United Utilities, Anglian Water, and Yorkshire Water, are facing a £1.5 billion legal case over sewage pollution. Citizens have accused these companies of underreporting sewage dumping to avoid penalties from the regulatory body, Ofwat. The BBC has uncovered nearly 6,000 possible illegal sewage spills in one year, highlighting the severity of the issue, including discharges during dry weather. Critics argue that the privatisation of water services has led to significant financial mismanagement, with shareholders extracting £78 billion in dividends while neglecting infrastructure improvements. Anglian Water, for instance, paid shareholders £619 for every hour it dumped sewage, resulting in £12.6 billion in dividends since privatisation while accumulating £7 billion in debt. Water companies have spent 9 million hours pumping raw sewage into Britain's seas and rivers since 2016, and no new reservoirs have been built in 30 years.
Quite brilliant investigative journalism by @EsmeStallard @JonahFisherBBC @Sophie_woodcock @becky_dale & Libby Rogers for @BBCNews They're still at it "BBC uncovers 6,000 possible illegal sewage spills in one year." https://t.co/uvAcLRy7Nm
▪️3 billion litres of water lost every day from leaking pipes ▪️ Water companies sold off reservoirs to housing developers, while no new ones have been built in 30 years. ▪️Water companies spent 9 million hours pumping raw sewage into Britain’s seas and rivers since 2016. https://t.co/Fl1MywT7nj
Thames and Southern are among water companies found to have discharged raw sewage in dry weather, according to BBC investigation. Tap below to read more: https://t.co/8aS383Nj5M
Anglian Water paid shareholders £619 for every hour it dumped sewage. £12.6bn dividend since privatisation. Borrowed to pay it. £7bn debt. 24% of customer bill spent servicing debts. No new reservoirs. All approved by OFWAT. Privatisation is a scam. https://t.co/bctWBMml34
BBC uncovers 6,000 possible illegal sewage spills in one year https://t.co/ZJGiCbGARP #bbcsouthnews
BBC uncovers 6,000 possible illegal sewage spills in one year in England https://t.co/wAQoK3Uk8U
BBC uncovers 6,000 possible illegal sewage spills in one year. BBC News has analysed spills data from nine firms, which suggests sewage may have been discharged nearly 6,000 times, including during the country’s record heatwave. https://t.co/vdOeRmHMZ9
BBC uncovers 6,000 possible illegal sewage spills in one year https://t.co/htx3jlFYDP
56 words. That's how much the Labour Party has given over to ending the sewage crisis in its manifesto. #LabourManifesto England's unique experiment with privatisation sees overseas shareholders making off with up to £1000 for every hour of pollution! https://t.co/Bf3Eb3XVV9
No one else runs water like England and Wales. Shareholders have ripped out £78 BILLION in dividends. They've pumped sewage into YOUR rivers and seas. The failed experiment must end. Public ownership NOW.https://t.co/UuizQYlDQJ
Six water firms sued for £1.5bn by bill payers over sewage pollution. Citizens say companies are underreporting sewage dumping to avoid being found to have missed Ofwat’s target levels. OFWAT should be suing companies/directors but it perpetuates scams. https://t.co/QfulBfJPUF
Thames Water among six water firms sued for up to £1.5bn by billpayers over sewage discharges https://t.co/jGUt8QOKYe
Can Labour clean up England’s dangerously dirty water? “Not a single year since privatisation that Thames Water shareholders put in more money than they took out.” Only country in world with fully privatised water system. By @horton_official https://t.co/ai4gNY0FM0
Can Labour clean up England’s dangerously dirty water? https://t.co/cZUvwFFfpk
Inside the £1.5bn legal case against water companies over sewage pollution The six water companies involved are Thames Water, Severn Trent, Northumbrian Water, United Utilities, Anglian Water and Yorkshire Water @k_petrakos reports https://t.co/GNqrAt0Bxk