British water companies fight off $1.9 billion lawsuits over sewage pollution

Lawsuit Outcome: Six British water companies, including Thames Water, successfully defeated mass lawsuits worth over £1.5 billion for allegedly under-reporting sewage discharges and overcharging customers, with the Competition Appeal Tribunal ruling that the cases were excluded by the Water Industry Act 1991.

Public Response: The ruling comes amid growing public anger over sewage pollution in Britain's waterways, prompting the government to promise stricter oversight of water companies.