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Cambridge Water Co Ltd v Eastern Counties Leather plc
House of Lords· England and Wales· 1994
[1994] 2 AC 264
Environmental issue: water_contamination
Original judgment link pending Comparative Studies
Environmental Justice Atlas Editorial Team Published September 27, 2026 Reviewed September 27, 2026
Summary
The House of Lords held that foreseeability of harm is a necessary element of liability in both nuisance and negligence, and that the tannery was not liable for aquifer contamination because the risk of the chemical seeping into the water supply was not reasonably foreseeable at the time of the spillage.
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This case analysis provides educational information, not legal advice. Subsequent developments may affect the current legal position. Consult a qualified lawyer in the relevant jurisdiction for any legal matter.