Hospital admissions caused by dirty water rise 60pc in decade

POLLUTED water is causing 60 per cent more hospital admissions than a decade ago, official figures show.

The number of people admitted to hospital for water-borne diseases, including dysentery and Weil’s disease, has increased from 2,085 people in 2010-11 to 3,286 in 2022-23, according to NHS statistics.

In the past year, 122 people were diagnosed with leptospirosis (Weil’s disease), which is contracted from the urine of infected rats, double the number diagnosed with the same disease in 2010.

One of the primary causes of someone contracting Weil’s disease is through polluted water, where infected urine gets into mouth, eyes or a cut, usually during activities such as kayaking, outdoor swimming or fishing.

It follows Environment Agency data that found last year was the worst for sewage spills since records began. Sewage was discharged for a record 3.6 million hours across England in 2023.

The number of sewage discharges rose by 54 per cent, from over 464,092 sewage spills in 2023, compared to 301,291 in 2022.

The analysis was compiled by the Labour Party in the lead-up to the Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race today.

Sean Bowden, the Oxford coach, called the pollution in the Thames a “national disgrace” after high levels of

E. coli were found on the course. Organisers have issued new safety guidance because of the pollution, including a warning to rowers not to enter the water and to cover any open wounds.

Labour pledged it would put failing water companies in special measures to force them to “clean up their toxic mess and protect people’s health”.

Ofwat, the regulator, would get powers to block the payment of any bonuses until water bosses had cleaned up the pollution, while water company bosses who oversaw repeated law-breaking would face criminal charges.

A government spokesman said it was taking action to hold water firms to account, including demanding “record levels of fast-tracked investment, ensuring a 100 per cent monitoring of storm overflows and a quadrupling of water company inspections.