Rather than waiting for the public to request information, UK Information Commissioner John Edwards wrote to utility companies in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland requesting that they release data on the quantity and length of sewage outflows each month.
restrictions pertaining to information. Just releasing the numbers would be quicker and simpler, according to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
Pollution “eroded trust among consumers.”
According to the ICO, customer confidence in these enterprises has been damaged by worries about sewage pollution, something that companies are legally obligated to address.
It stated: “Since the public is forced to use our water businesses, these corporations ought to make sure they are fully confident in their ability to do so. We’re asking these businesses to be transparent about their operations in order to assist restore the faith that has been damaged by the recent worries about sewage pollution.”
Untreated sewage discharged by water companies doubled from 1.8 million hours in 2022 to a record 3.6 million hours in 2023, according to an analysis of official data. Meanwhile, the Environment Agency’s figures revealed that sewage was deposited into rivers, lakes, and beaches that were deemed “safe to bathe in” an average of 86 times per day in 2023.
