EU environment watchdog to sue UK over sewer floods

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Britain faces court action by the European Union environment watchdog after sewers repeatedly flooded into the river Thames during rainstorms, two EU officials said on Tuesday.

The European Union's executive, the European Commission, will also take the British government to the European Court of Justice over sewage spills in Whitburn, northeast England.

The case could create pressure for increased investment by Thames Water, part-owned by Australia's Macquarie, and Northumbrian Water Group.

"This is partly about health, due to the bacteria and viruses in the waste water. But it's also about the environment due to the high levels of nitrogen and phosphates," said one official.

Combined sewers, which carry both human waste and rainwater, have been put under pressure in northern Europe during a string of rainy summers, particularly in Britain.

Overflowing sewers helped push UK beaches down the EU rankings for a second year running in June to just below the EU average at 95.5 percent compliance.

France, Belgium, Ireland and Spain have similar sewage systems and problems during heavy storms, one EU official said.

When the Commission launches the case on Thursday it is expected to argue that Britain is not properly applying Europe's waste water directive and exceeding the acceptable number of overflows.

But UK authorities will point to 2.5 billion pounds of investment in the sewage systems of England and Wales since they were privatized in 1989.

A further 1 billion pounds is planned for improving combined sewage outlets and 2.6 billion is planned for stormwater tunnels beneath London.

"This is the subject of ongoing legal proceedings and it would not be proper to comment on the details of the case in progress," said a UK government spokeswoman.

(Reporting by Pete Harrison; Editing by Dan Lalor and Rupert Winchester)