Partner Paul Greatholder has been quoted in an article on BBC online that warns water companies could face legal challenges over sewage discharges following a landmark Supreme Court ruling.
Earlier this week, Manchester Ship Canal Company won the ability to sue the area’s water supplier, United Utilities, over the release of raw sewage into the canal.
The article explores how water firms are coming under increasing scrutiny for unauthorised discharges of waste, as well as for their environmental records in general, at the same time as battling significant debt piles.
Commenting on the significance of the ruling, Paul is quoted as saying:
The floodgates are open…This could bring a range of potential claims from either the owners of adjacent waterways, or even from members of the public who have been made unwell as a consequence."
He added that the Supreme Court had put down a “marker” for water utility companies in claiming that issues may be in part due to a lack of investment in improving the waterway’s infrastructure to avoid overflow, concluding:
No doubt the same could be said of all water companies. Thames Water has spent billions of pounds on a ‘supersewer’ running through London to try to mitigate just this sort of issue."
The full article is available on the BBC News website.
Paul Greatholder is a partner in the property litigation team. He advises businesses, charities and individuals on all aspects of property disputes, including Supreme Court cases, and their avoidance.
Get in touch
If you would like to speak with a member of the team you can contact our property litigation solicitors by email, by telephone on +44 (0)20 3826 7525 or complete our enquiry form.
