theguardian.com
UK Water Company Fights Data Transparency Battle
United Utilities fights legal battle to block public access to data on sewage discharge into Windermere, facing criticism for lack of transparency.
English
United Kingdom
Climate ChangeUkEnvironmentTransparencyLegal BattlePollutionWater
United UtilitiesSave WindermereOfwatInformation Commissioner's Office (Ico)Environment Agency
Matt StaniekDavid BlackPeter Hammond
- What is the main conflict in the news article?
- United Utilities is legally battling public access to data on treated sewage discharge into Windermere, claiming it's internal communication and not environmental information.
- What is Ofwat's stance on the data transparency issue?
- Ofwat, the water regulator, expects transparency from water companies and believes customers deserve access to the data they've paid for.
- What evidence of pollution is mentioned in the article?
- A report reveals over 500 days of suspected illegal sewage spills in Windermere from 2018-2023, leading to concerns about toxic blue-green algae blooms.
- What is the Save Windermere campaign's position on United Utilities' actions?
- The Save Windermere campaign finds this "disgraceful," highlighting public interest in understanding the lake's pollution and the water company's impact.
- What was the Information Commissioner's Office's ruling on the data disclosure?
- The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) ruled that the information should be disclosed, concluding that if the phosphorus monitoring is accurate enough to be used for operational purposes and to indicate the level of toxins present in the water, there is a public interest in this information.