Petition · past parliament · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Require Water Companies to Refund Customers When They Dump Sewage

Closed 1,021 signatures

What the petition asks

It’s a consumer rights and pollution issue. We pay for the water company to take away surface-foul water to be treated at local sewage works. This amounts to around 45-50% of our annual bill. If the companies dump that waste water into the river or sea, without treatment, they are ripping us off.
Water companies have dumped sewage into rivers or the sea for years. Even in the height of summer during periods of low rainfall. It is more profitable for them to occasionally sluice the sewage, when they think they can get away with it, rather than treating it. If they were not just fined for any illegal dumping but forced to refund for treatment they haven’t done, it may make them a little more hesitant to carry on this disgusting practice.

Timeline

4 Nov 2021 Petition opened for signatures
4 May 2022 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 1,021
Status Closed
Department Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Opened 4 Nov 2021
Closed 4 May 2022

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.