Raw sewage is reportedly surfacing on 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 carrying out necessary water monitoring tasks.
The efforts of Ash and Prof Peter Hammond from Windrush Against Sewage Pollution to reveal the dumping of untreated sewage into rivers are highlighted in Channel 4’s impactful three-part series. The show also showcases Julie Maughan’s fight, whose daughter Heather Preen contracted E.coli at a Devon beach in 1999 and tragically passed away two weeks later, although South West Water denies responsibility.
Portrayed by David Thewlis and Jason Watkins in the series, Ash and Peter have spent a decade investigating water company practices with the aid of whistleblowers. Speaking on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, Ash emphasized the lack of change despite ongoing demands for action and criticized the Environment Agency’s response to pollution incidents reported by the public.
Prof Hammond expressed hope that the series would provoke public action, urging viewers to push for more government intervention and public control of the water industry. In response, an Environment Agency spokesperson defended the agency’s efforts in tackling water pollution, highlighting increased inspections and successful prosecutions against offending water companies.
The spokesperson mentioned an upcoming sentencing for Thames Water regarding raw sewage discharges and emphasized the agency’s commitment to enforcing regulations and improving performance within the water industry.