Earlier this year, Severn Trent Water was fined £2 million for ‘reckless’ pollution after a huge discharge of raw sewage at a treatment works in Stoke. In total, approximately 470 million litres of raw sewage was discharged, more than half illegally. According to the Environment Agency, the illegal sewage would have filled just over ten Olympic-sized swimming pools.
Further alleged disregard for the environment could result in Severn Trent Water having to pay compensation to millions of customers in the Bristol Estuary, Midlands and Humber region.
Legal and environmental experts assert that Severn Trent “significantly underreported” pollution incidents from its water and sewerage plants over several years. They claim this allowed the company to raise household bills, rewarded for supposedly good environmental performance. A new lawsuit claims that if the true extent of Severn Trent’s pollution had been known, customers would have paid lower bills.
Any household who has paid Severn Trent Water for wastewater services (either directly or as part of their rent) between 1 April 2017 and 2 August 2023 could be due compensation.
If you are affected by this case, you will automatically get compensation if successful (unless you opt-out). This means you do not have to register to join the claim. However, sign up with Join the Claim to get updates on the progress of the Severn Trent Water overcharging case.
Other water companies are also involved in this scandal, including Anglian Water, Northumbrian Water, Thames Water, United Utilities, and Yorkshire Water. Find out more about this claim.
