Versuchen GOLD - Frei

Statutory nuisance complaints filed against Thames Water

The Guardian

|

December 02, 2025

Communities across southeast England are filing the first coordinated legal complaints that sewage pollution by Thames Water negatively affects their lives.

- Sandra Laville

Statutory nuisance complaints filed against Thames Water

Thames Water failed to complete upgrades to 98 treatment plants and pumping stations that have the worst records for sewage pollution into the environment, despite a promise to invest in them over the last five years.

People in 13 areas including Hackney in east London, Oxford, Richmond upon Thames and Wokingham are sending statutory nuisance complaints to their local authorities demanding accountability from Thames Water and urgent action.

At several sites it is not just raw sewage from storm overflows that causes pollution but also the quality of treated effluent coming from Thames Water facilities, which presents a direct threat to public health, the campaigners say.

At Thames Water's Newbury sewage treatment plant, raw effluent discharges into the River Kennet, a protected chalk stream. Data shows raw sewage discharges from the plant increased by 240% between 2019 and 2024, from 482 hours to 1,630 hours. Thames says the plant is among its 26 most polluting sites.

WEITERE GESCHICHTEN VON The Guardian

The Guardian

The Guardian

After Assad Stalled justice threatens restless Syria

Lying in bed, recovering after his latest surgery, Ayman Ali retells the story of Syria's revolution through his wounds.

time to read

6 mins

December 08, 2025

The Guardian

The Guardian

'We can't give up' Fight on, say Ukraine's weary frontline troops

For almost all of their 62-day deployment on the frontline east of Pokrovske, Bohdan and Ivan hid - first in a village shop, then, after a deadly firefight with Russian soldiers, in a tiny basement where the infantrymen from Ukraine's 31st Brigade had to survive seven more weeks.

time to read

5 mins

December 08, 2025

The Guardian

The Guardian

Steve Rotheram: The Treasury whisperer transforming Liverpool

From the towering south stand of Everton's gleaming new riverside football stadium, the Liverpool city region mayor, Steve Rotheram, was showing off his next big goal to the visiting government minister.

time to read

2 mins

December 08, 2025

The Guardian

Stokes: England have felt 'pressure' of Ashes

Ben Stokes has admitted that the way England have folded in key moments during the first two Ashes Tests has led him to question the character of his players, and said: \"A dressing room that I am captain of isn't a place for weak men.

time to read

3 mins

December 08, 2025

The Guardian

The Guardian

Stage review Full-tilt fun steers novel's darkness into new realms

“Fast is FUN!” bellows Pinocchio as he tears about the stage, testing the limits of his newly animated legs.

time to read

1 mins

December 08, 2025

The Guardian

The Guardian

Patients at risk as one in seven GP referrals 'vanish into black hole'

NHS watchdog survey suggests many cases are lost, rejected or delayed

time to read

3 mins

December 08, 2025

The Guardian

Social media How Australia took lead on ban for children

In late 2023, the South Australian premier’s wife put down a book she had been reading.

time to read

2 mins

December 08, 2025

The Guardian

Salah could be left out of squad for Inter trip

Mohamed Salah could be omitted from Liverpool’s Champions League trip to Milan to play Inter tomorrow after his outspoken attack on the club and Arne Slot.

time to read

5 mins

December 08, 2025

The Guardian

Embattled US defence secretary insists strikes on boats are legal

The US defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, has doubled down on his dismissal of concerns over the legality of US strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean, arguing that Donald Trump has the power to take military action “as he sees fit”.

time to read

1 mins

December 08, 2025

The Guardian

Several hundred works in Louvre damaged by leak

A water leak late last month damaged several hundred works in the Egyptian department of the Louvre, the Paris museum said yesterday, weeks after a brazen jewel theft had raised concerns over its infrastructure.

time to read

1 min

December 08, 2025

Listen

Translate

Share

-
+

Change font size