It is official we have the worst water quality standard in Europe!

And CVD where did you get your information? according to this article Belgium is the worst for PFA’s.
However the UK certainly has got an out of control pollution problem.
www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/feb/23/revealed-scale-of-forever-chemical-pollution-across-uk-and-europe

Not so perfect maybe paddyann
inews.co.uk/news/scotland/water-pollution-rivers-scotland-sewage-discharge-2182796

It is between California and Hawaii. No surprises there !

nanna8

There would be an absolute outcry if Australian beaches were like this. The odd times, usually after floods, that they are polluted is something we totally wring our hands over. Do something about it, all of you!

I was told that there is run off of fertilisers from the land to the sea which is affecting the Great Barrier Reef. The nitrogen causes algae to form which in turn causes damage.
☹

There is an area of plastic floating in the Pacific Ocean which is three times the size of France.

I didn’t know the government had relaxed sewage regulations. Is that the case?
I do think pouring raw sewage on to the beaches/into the sea is disgraceful.

paddyann54

"WE" have very good water standards ,of course WE didn't privatise it .Our rivers are clean ...you can catch Salmon in the Clyde in the centre of Glasgow and our beaches are award winning .OUR drinking water is pure and clear and we have lots and lots of it .Loch Ness has more fresh water than ALL the sources of water in England and thousands of other Lochs of varying sizes .
Thats just ONE of the reasons Westminster wants to hang onto us .If you're talking about England please say England NOT the UK !

In Wales we have a not-for-profit water company, but the rivers and coasts are polluted here

The water rates are high so goodness knows what the money is spent on, not on enough new infrastructure.
One of our most polluted rivers is on the border between England and Wales so companies on both sides are at fault and the difference in water colour to green has become far more noticeable in the last few years.

My friend's house backs onto a canal. One day she saw her neighbour walk to the top of the garden and tip all her household waste into the canal. This despite having 5 council provided bins.

Sewage (some) in sea water actually helps some wild birds such as eider ducks because it feeds the things they feed on. Less sewage (as currently in our wee sea loch) means less food for eiders. Their numbers have de creased massively in the last few decades and birdy people think too clean water is the reason.

So this is another thing that is not cut and dried and simple.

Also, I don't actually believe UK has the worst water quality in Europe. It may be that some places are bad but I don't think everywhere is by a long way.

Oreo , saying we aren't the only ones doesn't help at all . I would like to know, though which other countries you are referring to which have such appalling standards of cleanliness in their rivers.
I am angry too about the gi-normous salaries paid to the CEOs of these companies and that they are very happy to accept them , in spite of the fact they are not doing their job.

It’s not enough to wring our hands - pressure must be put on government to enforce existing regulations and crack down much more heavily on the privatised water companies - what is more important the health of our environment or dividends to shareholders? Stop trying to defend them. Also it’s industrial farming methods that lead to much of this pollution - this must be acknowledged too.

The North Sea is clean enough here for me to swim in winter and summer we have daily water checks throughout the year only once last year do I remember us having a warning for a couple of days

I think there is more problems in rivers and certainly things like wet wipes do need banning

There would be an absolute outcry if Australian beaches were like this. The odd times, usually after floods, that they are polluted is something we totally wring our hands over. Do something about it, all of you!

"WE" have very good water standards ,of course WE didn't privatise it .Our rivers are clean ...you can catch Salmon in the Clyde in the centre of Glasgow and our beaches are award winning .OUR drinking water is pure and clear and we have lots and lots of it .Loch Ness has more fresh water than ALL the sources of water in England and thousands of other Lochs of varying sizes .
Thats just ONE of the reasons Westminster wants to hang onto us .If you're talking about England please say England NOT the UK !

I would, love to be near the seaside.
I never go in the water tho no matter what country I’m in.We aren’t the only one with sewage probs.
Yup, needs clearing up I’ll agree on that.New regs just out about water companies and no caps on fines for them, it sure is a start.