The public could receive hundreds of millions in compensation as six major water companies are under scrutiny over underreporting pollution incidents and overpricing customers.
The case against firms, including Severn Trent Water, argues inadequate reporting of sewage spills and river/seas pollution to the Environment Agency and Ofwat, potentially impacting pricing.
The reported pollution incidents and permit breaches connected to sewage treatment facilities are pivotal factors in determining service costs.
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The first six claims are against Severn Trent Water, representing eight million customers.
In the coming months, allegations will be brought against Thames Water, United Utilities, Anglian Water, Yorkshire Water, and Northumbrian Water.
The water firms are accused of violating competition law by failing to report pollution incidents, influencing service charges.
Professor Carolyn Roberts, an environmental and water consultant represented by Leigh Day, spearheads the legal actions for more than 20 million households constituting these firms’ customers.
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She contends the companies’ used their monopolies to skirt penalties by underreporting sewage discharges.
It has led to overcharging customers by hundreds of millions of pounds.
Ofwat and the Environment Agency investigate severe lapses in waste treatment practices by water companies.
Regulators have criticized the failure of most water companies to manage waste treatment operations, focusing on the non-disclosure of raw sewage discharge volumes and permit non-compliance.
Severn Trent Water refuted the claims by saying it has promptly reported the pollution incidents to the Environment Agency.
The company maintained that its adherence to regulatory targets and environmental performance set a high standard.
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Claims are “without merit”
Yorkshire Water said: “We are aware of an alleged claim being pursued by Leigh Day solicitors. Given the nature of the proposed proceedings, it would be inappropriate for us to comment any further.”
A Thames Water spokesperson said: “TWUL is aware of a claim threatened by Prof Carolyn Roberts. TWUL has engaged cooperatively with Prof Roberts to explain that the threatened claim is without merit. No claim has yet been issued against Thames.”
A spokesperson for the trade union, Water UK, said: “This highly speculative claim is entirely without merit.
The regulator has confirmed that over 99% of sewage works comply with their legal requirements.
If companies fail to deliver on their commitments, then customer bills are already adjusted accordingly.”
