Water companies ‘must clean up act’
Pollution puts swimming out of bounds in all Midland rivers
WILD swimming may become a thing of the past after a report has revealed that no Midland river is safe because of rising pollution levels.
The Environment Agency has called on water companies to “clean up their act” and branded their efforts to protect the environment “simply unacceptable”.
The call comes following a surge in “wild swimming” – taking a dip in river systems – sparked by the recent hot weather.
A Times newspaper investigation has revealed how dangerous pollutants in England’s waterways are at the highest since testing began.
A staggering 86 per cent rivers do not meet EU eco-standards. Ten years ago the figure was 75 per cent.
It has been claimed that monitoring is simply too infrequent to certify rivers as safe swimming zones.
An Environmental Agency report revealed standards have slipped among the nine water and sewerage companies serving this country.
In the Midlands, Severn Trent dropped from four stars – the highest, and expected, rating for eco-housekeeping – to three.
Companies with three stars “must” improve their performance to help heal the environment.
The EA has also revealed that most water companies are set to fall short of pollution standards in
2020. “Water companies need to clean up their act,” said Dr Toby Willis, the agency’s director of operations.
“People expect water companies to improve the environment, not pollute rivers, and ensure secure supplies of water.
“With only one exception, none of the companies is performing at the level we wish to see, the country expects and the environment needs. We will continue to challenge chief executives to improve company performance and we will take strong and appropriate enforcement action.
“Companies performing
well have a positive ripple effect on the natural environment and communities in their regions.
“We want all water companies to meet the expectation of their customers, the needs of environment and learn from the best practice that the leading company is demonstrating.”
Throughout England, the number of serious pollution incidents increased slightly to 56 – four more than last year. The pollutants that swimmers face are many and, according to the EA, range from simple dumping of items such as bicycles and supermarket trolleys to radioactive substances from power plants, industry and the medical profession.
Agricultural pollution, from uncontrolled spreading of manure, sheep-dip and fertilisers, also pose a hazard.
On top of that, a catalogue of toxic material dumped at sea has been making its way to UK rivers.
An EA spokesman added: “Every year there are about 3,000 pollution incidents involving oil and fuels in England and Wales.
Oil spillages affect water quality in a number of ways. Oil can make drinking water unsafe to drink.
A substantial amount of oil released into oceans and seas will destroy wildlife and the ecosystems that sustain them.”
A Greenpeace survey of river stretches found 42 plastic items in just one spot, in just one hour on the River Severn, while 35 pieces were fished from the River Trent.
A spokesman for the pressure group said: “During our campaign we witnessed voles eating plastic and swans using it to build their nests.
“Even less data exists on the levels and impacts of microplastic ingestion by river species such as fish, otters and swans. However, we can anticipate that microplastics could have a similar impact on river species to ocean species.”
Polyethylene, used in food packaging, was the most common plastic found but microbeads and nurdles – pre-production pellets – were also fished from the water.
People expect the water companies to improve the environment, not pollute our rivers
Environment Agency