Revealed: the ‘black box’ wastewater trade that rakes in millions for UK utility companies
An investigation reveals that UK water companies are generating millions by processing industrial wastewater in facilities not equipped to filter out hazardous chemicals. The lack of independent oversight has created a 'black box' system where pollutants are discharged into rivers and farmland.
Why it matters
This highlights a significant regulatory failure in environmental protection, potentially endangering public health and ecosystems through unchecked industrial chemical dumping.
A sewage treatment works operated by Thames Water in Isleworth, west London. A sewage treatment works operated by Thames Water in Isleworth, west London. Water Revealed: the ‘black box’ wastewater trade that rakes in millions for UK utility companies Exclusive: Firms made more than £340m last year from processing industrial and commercial wastewater at sewage works that are unable to remove many chemical pollutants
Prefer the Guardian on Google Water companies in the UK made more than £340m in revenue last year by pouring billions of litres of industrial and commercial wastewater into sewage treatment works that experts say are not designed to remove most chemicals, leaving pollutants to pass into rivers, seas and farmland.
Water companies are required by law to take industrial wastewater and issue permits called “trade-effluent consents” that allow businesses to send it to sewage works, though water companies can refuse applications.
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