Skip to main content
Gifts from The Morning Star
Water companies that illegally dumped sewage must be investigated, Labour demands
The River Calder filled with branches and rubbish flows through the centre of Mirfield, West Yorkshire

WATER companies should be investigated following reports that they may have illegally dumped sewage on dry days, Labour demanded today.

Companies are only supposed to spill after heavy rain to prevent the system from backing up and flooding homes and businesses with raw sewage.

But an investigation from the BBC, which looked at data from Wessex, Thames and Southern Water, suggested these companies were discharging sewage on some of the hottest and driest days of 2022.

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
More from this author
A man looks through an estate agent's window in Glasgow, Scotland
Scotland / 25 August 2025
25 August 2025
Noel Clarke arrives at the Royal Courts of Justice in London where his libel claim against Guardian News and Media (GNM) is taking place, April 11, 2025
Britain / 22 August 2025
22 August 2025
Similar stories
CLEAN UP YOUR ACT: An anti-sewage protest at Newquay beach,
Features / 11 September 2024
11 September 2024
The government’s new water Bill, while welcome, does not address the root cause Britain’s filthy waterways – what’s needed is proper enforcement of existing law, argues CHARLES WATSON