Yorkshire Water named among six water firms facing £800m class action lawsuit over sewage discharge

Six English water companies, including Sheffield's provider Yorkshire Water, are to face legal action over allegations of underreporting pollution incidents and overcharging customers.

Severn Trent Water, Thames Water, United Utilities, Anglian Water, Yorkshire Water and Northumbrian Water could end up paying over £800 million in compensation to more than 20 million customers if the cases are successful.

Professor Carolyn Roberts, an environmental and water consultant represented by Leigh Day Solicitors, claims these water companies have broken competition laws by misleading the Environment Agency and the regulator Ofwat.

She alleges they have been underreporting the number of sewage discharges, resulting in customers being "unfairly overcharged" for wastewater services, and that had sewage discharge reporting been accurate it would have lowered customer bills.

A spokesperson for Yorkshire Water said: “We are aware of an alleged claim being pursued by Leigh Day solicitors. Given the nature of the proposed proceedings, it would be inappropriate for us to comment any further.”

The first claim, brought on behalf of eight million people against Severn Trent Water, is estimated to be worth more than £330 million.

Further claims will be brought against the other companies in what Leigh Day said is the first environmental collective action case of its kind.

Water UK said the accusations are "entirely without merit" and that 99 per cent of sewage works are legally compliant.

Professor Roberts, an environmental and water consultant represented by Leigh Day Solicitors, said: "Like many others across the country, I have viewed with horror the escalating number of stories in the media regarding the volume of sewage discharged into our waterways and onto our beaches.

"The population of the UK has a right to expect that our rivers, lakes and seas will generally be clean, except under exceptional circumstances.

"It appears that because of the serial and serious underreporting at the heart of these claims, water companies have been avoiding being penalised by Ofwat.

"I believe this has resulted in consumers being unfairly overcharged for sewage services."

Anyone who has paid a water bill to one or more of these companies from April 2020 - or April 2017 for Severn Trent Water customers - may be entitled to compensation if the claims are successful.

Leigh Day is seeking money for customers on an opt-out basis, meaning people only have to come forward to claim their compensation if the case is successful.