By Abbas Nazil
Nearly 4,000 residents and business owners in England and Wales have filed a landmark legal action accusing Welsh Water and poultry producers Avara Foods Ltd and Freemans of Newent Ltd of causing widespread pollution in three major rivers, the Wye, Lugg and Usk.
The claimants allege that six years of sewage discharge and agricultural waste have devastated the rivers, which are protected habitats for otters, Atlantic salmon and freshwater pearl mussels.
They are seeking damages and demanding that the companies clean up the waterways.
According to Leigh Day partner Oliver Holland, who is representing the group, the lawsuit represents the culmination of years of local activism and research into the deteriorating conditions of the rivers.
He described it as a crucial step in holding polluters accountable and restoring these vital ecosystems.
The defendants, Welsh Water, Avara Foods and Freemans of Newent, have denied any wrongdoing.
Avara Foods stated that it does not spread or store manure on its poultry farms and that individual farmers are responsible for managing nutrient use in crop production.
The company maintained that it follows high standards and urged broader solutions that tackle all forms of pollution, including climate impacts.
Welsh Water, a not-for-profit utility, defended its record, citing seventy million pounds invested in improving the Wye and thirty-three million pounds in upgrades to the Usk.
The company argued that external pollution sources have undermined its progress and vowed to fight the case, warning that compensations could divert funds from future environmental improvements.
Lead claimant and wildlife filmmaker Justine Evans lamented the loss of the river’s beauty, saying it has become unsafe for recreation and unrecognizable compared to its former state.
She warned that children are growing up thinking the polluted condition of the Wye is normal.
The case highlights growing frustration over the condition of British rivers, none of which currently meet good chemical or biological standards, as pollution from sewage and agriculture continues to choke aquatic life and endanger biodiversity.
