A decade ago, around 80% of Britain’s bathing waters were rated excellent; over the last 10 years, that has fallen by 20% to around 60%. And of course, the downside is not limited to reduced access to bathing: the environmental consequences of this pollution are severe.
The Lords agreed an amendment to the Environment Bill which would place a duty on water companies and the government take all reasonable steps to ensure untreated sewage is not discharged from storm overflows and require that they progressively reduce the harm caused by these discharges.
Last week, 265 Conservative MPs voted to overturn the amendment, which was duly rejected. There are however some glimmers of good news:
- 70 Conservative MPs did not vote at all and 22 had the courage to vote against the government and in favour of the amendment
- The amendment was defeated by 265 votes to 202 — a majority of only 63: if the abstainers had voted against, the amendment would have stood
- If the Lords stick to their guns, MPs will have a second chance to vote on the amendment this Wednesday, 27 October.
We therefore still have time to get a message to Conservative MPs before Wednesday, making our feelings clear. Here is an easy way to write to them.
9 comments so far
Why ARE water companies discharging raw sewage into rivers, oceans and waterways? Why can’t we access water purification chemicals?
We must stop for-profit companies dumping raw sewage into our rivers!
Please stop tipping your waste into our seas and rivers !
This is a total disgrace in modern Britain. We are going backwards
How can we clean up our only planet with this going on. It’s a disgrace, there must be another way… I can’t comprehend that this is still going on.
For the sake of future generations get your act together and stop dumping your shit into the seas. Clean up your act.
Why oh why have we returned to dumping raw sewage into the rivers and seas. Didnt we learn anything from being part of the EU.
Why aren’t this government doing more to prevent water companies from discharging sewage into our rivers and seas . At the global climate summit there’s talk about saving the planet and providing billions of pound’s. But there’s no talk of investing money for replacing outdated Victorian sewer pipes .
I cant believe that this is even an issue. What sort of person votes against clean waterways? Are we heading back to the Victorian age? A return to dysentery and other waterborne diseases? Why is this allowed to happen? Why can’t we get the chemicals to treat the waste?
We need much tighter REGULATION on water & energy industries.. It is no less than CRIMINAL to destroy our precious waterways, coastlines, seas with filthy deadly sewage! Yet no solution is in sight- even NOW !. Why don’t polititians CARE enough to imprison errant water authorities? Nothing is more crucial to all life on earth than water. Yet as usual, being stingy with funding is the priority. Water is far more valuable than money to anybody suffering from thirst. Most creatures ( including humans) can survive without food for weeks.but 3 days without water will kill most organisms. Why can’t we get our PRIORITIES right? Apparently, our water has been sold abroad by Thatcher in the 80s. So water companies with nothing to do with this country, give their huge profits gathered from UK citizens to foreign shareholders- instead of investing in repair & infrastructure. This country is dying from NEGLIGENCE & MISMANAGEMENT! Responsibilities are a mess…water companies councils transport depts make it impossible to pinpoint blame. Sewage dumping happened TODAY while NOTHING is changing! This is a CRISIS.