Raw sewage is reported to be surfacing on the streets, according to a campaigner involved in Channel 4’s Dirty Business series, who criticized the Environment Agency. Ash Smith accused the regulator of neglecting its duty, stating that local activists are conducting waterway monitoring that the agency should be handling.
The effort led by Ash and Prof Peter Hammond from Windrush Against Sewage Pollution to uncover the issue of untreated sewage discharge into rivers is a central focus of Channel 4’s impactful three-part program. The series also showcases Julie Maughan’s struggle, whose daughter Heather Preen contracted E.coli, leading to her tragic death after visiting a Devon beach in 1999.
Despite their decade-long investigation into water companies’ conduct, Ash and Peter, portrayed by David Thewlis and Jason Watkins, have noted minimal progress in holding these entities accountable. Ash highlighted the persistent pollution caused by water companies, with reports continually being filed to the Environment Agency, often without significant response.
Prof Hammond expressed hope that the public’s outrage, fueled by the series, would prompt action. He emphasized the need for public pressure on authorities to address the issue and advocated for removing profit motives from the water industry in favor of public ownership and control.
In response to the portrayal in the film, an Environment Agency spokesperson defended the organization’s recent efforts to combat water pollution, highlighting increased inspections and prosecutions against offending companies. The spokesperson cited upcoming sentencing for Thames Water related to sewage discharges and previous successful prosecutions as evidence of the agency’s commitment to addressing pollution incidents.