Thousands join biggest-ever UK environmental lawsuit over river pollution

At the High Court, the biggest court lawsuit ever brought in the United Kingdom against environmental pollution has been filed. Almost 4,000 people have signed up to a lawsuit involving major poultry producers and a water company over allegations of extensive and widespread contamination in three rivers - the Wye, Lugg and Usk. They claim that the river's condition has severely harmed local businesses, property values, and people's enjoyment of the area, and that they are demanding "substantial compensation. Avara Foods Limited, Freemans of Newent Limited, and Welsh Water are among the defendants being sued, but the allegations are denied by the three companies.

The case was the largest brought in the UK by environmental pollution in three dimensions, according to Celine O'Donovan of Leigh Day, based on three counts: the number of claimants, the geographical extent of the harm, and the estimated damages. Many who have joined the party are either live or work along the rivers or use them regularly for leisure pursuits such as swimming and canoeing. They want the court to order a clean-up of the rivers as well as compensation. A combination of chicken manure and sewage leaks has been blamed for affecting water quality and suffocating fish and other wildlife. In recent years, the Wyein in particular has risen to the forefront of widespread worries about the worsening condition of the UK's waterways. In the river's catchment area, up to 23 million chickens, or a quarter of the UK's poultry production, are raised.

Where is the River Wye?

It flows for 155 miles from its source in the Cambrian Mountains of mid Wales along the English border to the Severn Estuary. The River Lugg is a major tributary of the Wye, flies predominately through Herefordshire. Before crossing the Bristol Channel at Newport, the River Usk weaves through Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, also known as the Brecon Beacons, and the Blaenavon Industrial Landscape World Heritage Site. Both three rivers are listed as endangered wildlife, including otters, freshwater pearl mussels, and the Atlantic salmon. Justine Evans, a wildlife filmmaker, is leading the Wye's case, who claimed she has seen a stark decline in the Wyre's health in recent years. The once clear river had turned murky and slimy, completely changing how she felt about living alongside it, she said.

It's sad to think what has happened to the animals it is home to,

she said. Roland Lee, a former Olympic swimmer, moved to the Wye in order to swim in open water.

Now I'd actually go as far as to warn people against going in,

he said. Gino Parisi, a resident of Raglan, Monmouthshire, was worried about the River Usk's condition.

I grew up around the River Usk in the 1980s and know how stunning the river and the immediate area can be,

he said. You can see foam buildups in a number of places, the water had become mucky and cloudy and you can see build-ups of foam in dozensNot only will I be uncomfortable going into, but I'd also be concerned about my health.

Why is the River Wye polluted?

The claimants claim that run-off from farmland with high amounts of phosphorus, nitrogen, and bacteria has caused pollution, which has been blamed on the propagation of poultry manure and sewage bio solids used as fertiliser. They also blame the discharge of sewage directly into rivers. The firms being sued are accused of negligence, public and public nuisance, and even trespass where the riverbed has been affected on a claimant's property. One of the allegations is brought on behalf of people affected by the Lugg Moratorium, which puts limits on building built by Herefordshire Council to shield the River Lugg from further pollution. The claim was

the culmination of an extraordinary effort by local community members and advocacy organizations to study, monitor, and advocate for their rivers,

Leigh Day's Oliver Holland said.

This is the first court action in the United Kingdom to address environmental pollution ever taken.

The court has become the last avenue for justice

in a situation where government and regulators have failed to prevent the degradation of our rivers. Avara Foods Limited is one of the UK's largest poultry processors. Freemans of Newent, a company headquartered in Hereford, has also been named as a defendant in the lawsuit. Avara Foods spoke to the BBC that it had expressed reservations about the River Wye's condition.

We do agree that this court allegation is based on a misunderstanding because no manure is stored or spread on Avara Foods' poultry-only farms.

Where poultry manure is used as fertiliser, it is for other crops in other agricultural fields,

the company said, noting that individual farmers were responsible for how nutrients were used in their arable operations. The company said it employed 1,500 workers in the Wye catchment area, and that all of its poultry was raised to international standards.

The emphasis should instead be on solutions that will improve the river's longevity, addressing all aspects of pollution and the effects of climate change, as well as taking appropriate action,

the journal said. Welsh Water said the company had made significant investments over the past years, resulting in

real improvements in water quality. These included spending £70 million over the past five years to upgrade sites along the River Wye, work that was

ahead of the target set by our regulators,and the River Usk's £33 million.Unfortunately, the water pollution caused by other industries during this period has increased dramatically, dramatically reducing the overall effect of the water quality improvements we've achieved,

a spokesperson said. According to the company, they were supposed to

defend this case vigorously. "The fact that we are a not-for-profit business means that any payments to these claimants will certainly reduce the amount that we can reinvest in further enhancements for the benefit of all of our clients and the planet. In 2024, environmental campaigners fought for a high-profile court fight against the UK government over pollution in the river Wye. Ministers in Westminster and Cardiff Bay have since established a joint £1 million fund to look at the river's sources of pollution. Sign up for the Future Earth newsletter to get exclusive insight into the most recent climate and environment news from BBC's Climate Editor Justin Rowlatt, which is delivered straight to your inbox every week. Outside the UK? Sign up to our international newsletter here.