Information commissioner urges water firms to ‘be open’ about sewage spills
Ruling paves way for businesses and public to sue water firms over sewage
June 2024
Lake District sewage campaigners launch nuisance complaint in legal first
Protect Windermere from sewage, campaigners urge UK party leaders
May 2024
United Utilities raises investor payouts a day after Windermere sewage discharge revealed
Near-10% dividend increase follows allegation that water company failed to prevent illegal pollution for 10 hours in February
April 2024
Specieswatch
Specieswatch: Windermere char under threat from raw sewage
The fish can no longer be caught by commercial nets – but now pollution puts their future in doubt
March 2024
Water companies in England face outrage over record sewage discharges
Call for environmental emergency to be declared after data reveals 105% rise in raw sewage discharges over past 12 months
January 2024
Huge loss of invertebrates detected in stream feeding into Windermere
Campaigners say 76% decline in riverfly species’ abundance at Cunsey Beck is being caused by sewage discharges
November 2023
Up to 70 days of suspected illegal dumps of sewage in Windermere in 2022, analysis finds
Researcher says data suggests permit conditions breached on up to 70 days, but United Utilities disputes findings
August 2023
United Utilities fined £800,000 for taking 22bn litres of water from aquifer
Company breached three-year rolling limit on abstraction licence at Fylde aquifer in 2018
July 2023
Thames Water boss and ex-Ofwat head refuses to apologise for letting companies increase debt – video
Cathryn Ross's comments came during a parliamentary committee session with Thames Water chiefs as concerns mount over the financial viability of the company.
June 2023
Seascape: the state of our oceans
No swimming, no surfing: how a summer of sewage is ruining the British seaside day out
Red flags are going up on beaches from Scarborough to Whitstable as pollution levels soar and businesses are forced to close due to sewage discharges
May 2023
Water firm to pay shareholders £300m despite anger over leaks and pollution
United Utilities accused of ‘making mockery’ by raising dividend in face of sewage spills and continuing leakages
April 2023
Sewage-soaked field stops creation of new woodland in Greater Manchester
Boss of UK’s most polluting water firm made £1.4m from shares before retiring
August 2022
Environment Agency pension fund criticised for owning stakes in UK water firms
Campaigner Feargal Sharkey says profiteering from firms that dump raw sewage into rivers an ‘obscenity’
April 2022
Five out of six top jobs at FTSE water firms to be held by women
Other lives
Roy Rhodes obituary
November 2021
Water profits surge even as leaks and spills wash away public trust
Pennon’s results may be good next week, but nationalisation ought to be on the cards given the industry’s soiled record
May 2021
Water firms are main source of microplastics in UK rivers, study says
Research says discharge of untreated sewage and wastewater during dry spells to blame
