Press Release: United Kingdom: Commission to continue legal action for waste water pollution

The European Commission on 4 April 2006 decided to pursue legal action against the United Kingdom over a breach of EU rules for the collection and treatment of urban waste water. The UK received a final warning before possible Court action for a case which concerned insufficient collection and treatment facilities for four urban centres (London, Torbay, Whitburn and Kilbarchan). This resulted in untreated urban waste water being discharged directly into rivers or sea, causing pollution of the environment and health hazards.