British Water Companies Under Fire for Under-Reporting Sewage Discharges

Six British water companies, including Thames Water, are accused of under-reporting sewage discharges, resulting in customer overcharges of up to 1.5 billion pounds. Environmental consultant Carolyn Roberts is leading a landmark lawsuit. The case comes amid heightened public outcry over sewage pollution in Britain's waterways.

Six British water companies, including the largest provider Thames Water, are facing accusations of under-reporting sewage discharges, resulting in overcharges to customers of up to 1.5 billion pounds, lawyers revealed at a London tribunal on Monday.

The companies, also comprising Anglian Water, Northumbrian Water, Severn Trent, United Utilities, and Yorkshire Water, are alleged to have misled industry regulator Ofwat about the number of pollution incidents, enabling higher customer charges. However, the companies argue the case should be dismissed.

This landmark lawsuit, the first of its kind in environmental competition law in the UK, follows public uproar over sewage disposal into Britain's waterways. Environmental consultant Carolyn Roberts alleges systemic under-reporting by the companies and seeks to bring the case forward, with potential claims against Thames Water alone valued at around 200 million pounds. A decision on the case proceeding is awaited.

(With inputs from agencies.)