Campaign groups have said that thousands are withholding payment from all 11 water companies in England and Wales due to sewage spills
that thousands are withholding payment from all 11 water companies in England and Wales due to sewage spills
Ms Dennett said she has been asked to pay Wessex Water nearly £850, including outstanding charges and legal fees associated with recovering her debt.“Most sensible people would agree that, morally, it is not right for corporations to be paid for a service when they pollute the open environment regardless of the amount of money you’re paying them.
A Wessex Water spokesperson said: “We understand storm overflows are an issue for customers and we’re always happy to discuss our solutions and where we are investing with them, which we have already done with Ms Dennett. “When they sent me the new bill for 2024-25, I sent them a letter saying I was withholding 50 per cent of my bill because of the disgraceful behaviour historically they had in polluting the rivers and the sea.“In the letters they are saying you need to settle this bill now, otherwise we may take court action.”
“Their environment is being degraded by the crimes of this company, it’s not just humans. The environment as a whole suffers. A Southern Water spokesperson said: “We invested more between 2020 and 2025 than ever previously spent. And we will be spending more than double that amount over the next five years.
“While I have received several Final Notices, and a ‘courtesy call’ warning me of imminent legal action, I still await formal notice of court action for debt recovery,” Ms Wassmer said. “The Wye is my river,” she said. “My favourite thing in the whole world is to be below the water, to have an eel go past or to monitor the aquatic life.
“It devastated my whole life for a year. They had to rip the kitchen out, all the floors out. I had no kitchen to eat. I was living out of a van. It was horrible. “These companies that are there to provide an absolutely vital aspect of human life – water – are being so brazen in their lack of care, their lack of respect, for their one job.
South West Water has said that storm overflows are pressure relief valves designed to prevent homes and businesses from flooding during periods of bad weather. Mr Kaufman said that Thames Water and the Consumer Council for Water both failed to clarify what portion of his bill payments will be used to finance the loan, which is being offered with an interest rate of 9.75 per cent.
Mr Kaufman added that his local river, the River Roding, has been “really badly polluted”, compromising its wildlife and ecosystems.
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