Channel 4’s Dirty Business is a clarion call to nationalise the water industry

The Guardian World

by Sandra Laville

February 23, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

Channel 4’s drama *Dirty Business* highlights the devastating consequences of private water companies shifting pollution from coastal areas to rivers, as seen through the tragic story of an eight-year-old girl who contracted a life-threatening illness after playing in contaminated seawater. The emotionally charged moment where Julie Maughan holds her dead daughter, Heather, underscores the human cost of inadequate waste management systems. Heather’s death, caused by E. coli O157 from raw sewage, serves as a stark reminder of the risks posed by private firms failing to meet public health standards. The drama is based on real events where water companies in England and Wales were found to be illegally dumping raw sewage into rivers, leading to widespread pollution. Heather contracted the deadly bacteria while swimming at Dawlish Warren beach in Devon, where the water was contaminated due to insufficient treatment. Her condition rapidly deteriorated, resulting in kidney failure and irreversible brain damage. The story paints a grim picture of how private companies prioritize profits over public safety, leaving vulnerable communities exposed to health hazards. This issue is not isolated to the UK but resonates globally as poor waste management systems continue to threaten public health worldwide. The case of Heather’s death highlights the urgent need for greater accountability in the water industry and the potential benefits of nationalizing such services to ensure safer and more reliable infrastructure. For readers interested in global health, environmental policy, and social justice, *Dirty Business* serves as a powerful call to action for rethinking how we manage our water resources—and who should be responsible for their safety.

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Originally published on The Guardian World on 2/23/2026