Water pollution in Britain is being exposed by retired campaigners

A Channel 4 drama and the research of two retired campaigners have renewed attention on long-running concerns about water pollution and the finances of England and Wales's water companies; a related class action reached the Court of Appeal shortly after the interview.

Channel 4's new series Dirty Business follows two retired campaigners, Peter Hammond and Ashley Smith, who have spent years investigating pollution in England and Wales's waterways. Their work points to long-running issues since privatisation, including large dividend payments by water companies and substantial company debt. The campaign's research has been published in the scientific journal NPJ Clean Water and cited in parliamentary material. Officials quoted in the article say the Environment Agency has expanded staff, improved data and increased powers, and is on track to carry out 10,000 inspections this year. Key facts: - Since privatisation, the article reports that water companies extracted about £85bn in dividends and accumulated more than £60bn in debt. - Peter Hammond and Ashley Smith formed Windrush Against Sewage Pollution and have published research that has been cited in scientific and parliamentary sources. - The day after the interview, a class action on which Hammond is a technical adviser was in the Court of Appeal, and the Environment Agency said it is increasing inspections and enforcement activity. Summary: The Channel 4 drama and the retirees' research have brought renewed attention to longstanding concerns about water company finances and wastewater management. A related class action was in the Court of Appeal soon after the interview; further legal and regulatory outcomes are undetermined at this time.