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Government accused of ‘washing its hands’ of sewage scandal as new water bill announced
A tanker pumping out excess sewage from the Lightlands Lane sewage pumping station in Cookham, Berskhire which flooded after heavy rainfall, January 10, 2024

THE government was accused of “washing its hands” of the sewage scandal today after it announced new legislation on regulators.

The Water (Special Measures) Bill gives increased powers to Ofwat and the Environment Agency to tackle polluting firms and fine them automatically, without undertaking lengthy probes.

The duration of sewage spills more than doubled last year to 3.6 million hours.

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