Thames Water fined £3.3m over river sewage

Thames Water has been fined £3.3m aft it discharged millions of litres of undiluted sewage into 2 rivers, sidesplitting much than 1,400 fish.

The steadfast released the sewage from attraction works adjacent Gatwick Airport successful October 2017 into the Gatwick Stream successful Sussex and River Mole successful Surrey.

Thames Water admitted 4 charges successful an Environment Agency prosecution.

It was handed the good during sentencing astatine Lewes Crown Court.

The company, which serves 15 cardinal households, faces concerns implicit its aboriginal amid mounting debt.

During the hearing, the tribunal was told by Sailesh Mehta, prosecuting, that the sewage spill was an "accident waiting to happen".

Defending Thames Water, Lisa Roberts KC said: "It shouldn't person happened and Thames profoundly regrets the event."

She claimed determination was a "faulty switch" successful the tempest pump that caused the incidental which "could not person reasonably been foreseen".