Latest News

British public utility combat $2 billion suits over sewage pollution

6 British water companies underreported sewage discharges and overcharged millions of clients up to 1.5 billion pounds ($ 2 billion) as an outcome, legal representatives bringing a landmark suit told a London tribunal on Monday.

The energies companies, including Britain's biggest water company Thames Water, are accused of misleading industry regulator Ofwat about the variety of pollution incidents, which suggested they were able to charge higher prices to clients.

But the six business-- which also include Anglian Water, Northumbrian Water, Severn Trent, United Utilities and Yorkshire Water-- say the case must be thrown away.

The suit, the very first ecological competitors law action to be brought in the UK, comes as the quantity of sewage pumped into Britain's waterways has sparked public anger, prompting the federal government to pledge harder oversight.

Environmental and water consultant Carolyn Roberts wants to bring the case, which declares the 6 public utility substantially and/or systemically under-reported the variety of pollution incidents to Ofwat.

Julian Gregory, a legal representative representing Roberts, told the Competitors Appeal Tribunal that Thames Water alone may have stopped working to report more than 6,000 discharges.

Roberts' attorneys value the case versus Thames Water, which is heavily indebted and attempting to raise money to stabilise its finances, at as much as around 200 million pounds.

Gregory said the six cases should be accredited to continue towards a trial, an early action in the case. The public utility, however, state the case is prevented by English law controling the water market and must be dismissed.

Industry body Water UK said in a declaration: This extremely speculative claim is totally without merit. The regulator has verified that over 99% of sewage works abide by their legal requirements.

The hearing is because of conclude on Thursday and a choice on whether the case can continue is anticipated at a later date.

(source: Reuters)