The ruling will empower angling groups across Britain to take direct action against water firms for sewage spills, added Penny Gane of Fish Legal.

United Utilities said it is considering the implications of the ruling and the clarification of the circumstances in which private owners could bring proceedings in respect of discharges. 

A government spokesperson said it is considering the case’s implications “for the water industry and for water billpayers in England and Wales.”
The regulator Ofwat said it was considering the implications on its regulatory functions.

Water UK, which represents water firms, said it needed Ofwat to green light a £100 billion investment plan to stem current “unacceptable levels” of sewage spills.

Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay said bringing all water companies back into public ownership is “the only credible option to end the unlawful dumping of sewage, stop rewarding shareholders for failure, and reinvest all profits back into fixing leaks and building new infrastructure.“

The Labour Party was contacted for comment.