Water firms "worst polluters"
5 Aug 2013
Water utilities have been accused of being the worst polluters of England’s waterways following the release of Environment Agency data.
More than 1,000 incidents have been recorded by the Agency since 2005, with water companies fined a total of £3.5 million.
These incidents included sewage illegally pouring into a harbour for more than a year, and managers destroying records.
Water companies invest billions of pounds each year to safeguard the natural environment
Water UK spokesman
Thames Water received the largest fine, while United Utilities was the most persistent offender, according to the data released under the Freedom of Information Act following an investigation by the Observer newspaper.
The paper accused water companies of being the “most persistent and frequent polluters of England’s rivers and beaches”, while Observer columnist Nick Cohen claimed water companies were run by “reckless and greedy men”.
A spokesman for Water UK, the trade body representing water companies, told the paper: “We never want to see incidents of pollution. Water companies invest billions of pounds each year to safeguard the natural environment while providing people with high-quality water to drink and healthy rivers, beaches and bathing waters to enjoy. While it’s widely accepted that there is still room for improvement, there is clear evidence of progress in many areas.”
