Dirty business? Let's make a wave of change

Charlotte Owen
, 05 March 2026
Dirty business? Let's make a wave of change
Dirty Business promotional image © Channel 4

If you’ve watched Dirty Business, Channel 4’s dramatised documentary on the sewage scandal, you might be feeling a mixture of despair, fury, frustration and outrage. We certainly are. Work has been underway for decades to clean up our rivers, lakes, beaches and the sea but we’re still not seeing improvements at the pace our environment needs.

We are now at a critical moment. A new water law is coming and the strength of public feeling in response to this powerful TV series could be the tipping point so desperately needed to secure an overhaul of the water system that will finally address its failings.

It all rests on the Water Reform Bill. The Government has promised once-in-a-generation change but so far has not delivered ambitious enough commitments. We must make sure the Government delivers a new water law that:

Stops the polluters
By clamping down on sewage, restricting intensive agriculture and banning toxic chemical pollution

Fixes the broken system
By stopping water companies putting profit before people and nature

Restores nature 
By bringing our rivers, lakes, beaches and the sea back to life with cleaner water, healthier habitats and safe access

You can help make this happen.

Please join us (and more than 40 other organisations) to demand Clean Water Now. Email your MP today and demand a new water law that stops polluters, fixes what’s broken and delivers clean water – now. 

Our partners, Friends of the Earth, have made it easy to email your MP, so please take action today.

Email your MP to demand clean water now


Want to know more? Read the Clean Water Now report

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