Water pollution information
Find out more about pollution from misconnections and its impact on the water environment
1. Misconnections cause pollution
When most people think of river pollution they think of sources like factories, farms and industry. Yet in many cases, the pollution comes from a much less obvious place - our homes.
A misconnection is where incorrect plumbing in your home causes waste water from your dishwasher, washing machine, sinks, baths and even your toilet being flushed directly into your local river instead of to the sewage treatment works.
You may or may not be responsible for plumbing in your own appliances. However, it is your responsibility for putting it right. Misconnections are not only harmful to the environment, they are illegal. Failure to correct the problem could lead to prosecution by the Environment Agency or your local council.
Having a responsible attitude to waste disposal in the home is very important. Raw sewage can flood into homes, gardens, parks, brooks and rivers, causing misery, distress and health problems where we live.