Sewage pollutes two-fifths of rivers, posing health risk

TWO-FIFTHS OF rivers in England and Wales are polluted with sewage, hitting wildlife and potentially threatening human health, conservationists have warned.

A report from environmental charity WWF said 80 per cent of rivers failed to meet good ecological standards, with half affected by sewage pollution.

There are almost 18,000 licensed emergency sewer overflows in England and Wales, which are allowed to discharge raw sewage directly into the environment during extreme rainfall, mostly into rivers.

But the investigation by WWF suggests they are discharging more frequently, with data from one water company suggesting that 14 per cent of overflows were spilling sewage into rivers more than once a week, and half more once than a month.

England’s nine water and sewerage companies reported 1,902 pollution incidents last year, the first rise since 2012, figures show.

Wastewater legally discharged continuously from sewage treatment works is not being treated to a high enough standard to protect rivers, WWF warned.

Ben Stafford, head of campaigns at WWF, said: “The problem of sewage pollution stems from multiple failings, including lack of proper planning and investment in our sewerage system; shortcomings in monitoring, risk assessments, operational practice and staff culture; and insufficient regulation.”