“Dirty Business tells the truth the water industry has spent thirty years trying to bury."
We all knew that the water companies were covering their tracks when it came to sewage pollution, but didn’t realise how far it went. Watch this new doc-drama which aired on Channel 4 this week, it’s eye opening and totally shocking.
Watch all three episodes here:
To coincide with the broadcast, Channel 4 unveiled an installation on London’s South Bank titled “The Fountain of Filth,” featuring sculptures of men, women and children appearing to vomit polluted brown water — a stark visual commentary on the crisis explored in the programme.
The issues highlighted in Dirty Business remain ongoing. Surfers Against Sewage has published figures indicating that more than 124,000 hours of sewage discharge were recorded in England’s designated bathing waters during 2025. The group also reports 1,236 cases of illness linked to water use, with 74% occurring at sites rated “good” or “excellent” by the Environment Agency.
Giles Bristow, Surfers Against Sewage Chief Executive, said: “Dirty Business tells the truth the water industry has spent thirty years trying to bury. A girl is dead. Thousands are still getting sick."
