UK water firm says ‘highly likely’ behind plastic pellet pollution incident

One of the UK’s under-fire water companies apologised Monday after plastic pellets washed up en masse on beaches in southern England, conceding it was “highly likely” behind the recent pollution.

Southern Water, which provides water and sewage services to millions of customers across a swathe of southern England, blamed a “failure” at one of its treatment facilities.

It is just the latest polluting incident involving one of the country’s much-criticised water firms, which have drawn the ire of communities across Britain for repeatedly pumping sewage into waterways and seas.

In response, the government has begun to overhaul the water regulation system, including tightening sanctions against sector executives.

Environmental monitoring group Strandliners estimated the latest incident has