Chance to end the sewerage scandal.

No chance.

Party first then?

For years I've been doing that parent thing, where you take your children to places you remember as a child.

And the difference between those memories and what I found was heartbreaking. I remember clear water and being able to see the bottom.

It's a massive problem for both us and nature and the thought of what is in it I dint think I ever want to swim again

Can you post a link or put an enlarged version on thread. The lettter as it is in the OP is in print too small to read.

Whitewavemark2

Party first then?

I think that will go without saying.

M0nica

Can you post a link or put an enlarged version on thread. The lettter as it is in the OP is in print too small to read.

And if you enlarge the print is blurred

Shinamae

M0nica

Can you post a link or put an enlarged version on thread. The lettter as it is in the OP is in print too small to read.

And if you enlarge the print is blurred

Just had another look, and it’s not blurred. 😜

The only strategic solution to the sewage problem and the failure of privatised water companies to reduce system leaks is to nationalise them without compensation.

I don’t think it’s primarily intended to change anything (well, not about water pollution). It’s an Early Day Motion to force a debate on the government, and to make them look bad if they oppose it.

The last Labour EDM was a great success, as the chaos caused by the government trying to whip it is what brought down Liz Truss, but I bet barely anyone (including me) can remember the subject of the Motion.

That’s impossible Grantanow.

Oh well, we weren’t wrong.

Tories vote to continue pouring sewerage into our waterways.

I recently signed the campaign from 38 Degrees challenging the CEO of water authorities to swim in the mess they have made. Not acting when there is sewage pollution in our waterways yet reaping rewards when they are not doing their job.

Whitewavemark2

Oh well, we weren’t wrong.

Tories vote to continue pouring sewerage into our waterways.

You weren't. I've been out all day so could have got this wrong, but it seems to me that the Conservatives took the Labour motion, took all it's teeth out so it was left with nothing holding the companies to account, and then voted.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/apr/25/coffey-muddies-the-waters-as-tories-wash-their-hands-of-sewage-scandal?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Some improvements will be made in the worst cases, to eliminate all overflows is impossible, it’s not a public health issue just don’t swim in rivers.

katie59 Of course it’s a public health and environmental issue. It’s not just about swimmers and children paddling - but they should be able to enjoy our waters - what about the wildlife we are wiping out and the ecological disaster that will cause? Of course we should clean up the waterways and it’s isn’t impossible to achieve, with the profits the water companies make for their foreign based owners they could be able to stop this unacceptable pollution. With a swipe of her pen , the environment secretary could force the water companies to obey the law or be taken back into public ownership.

vegansrock

katie59 Of course it’s a public health and environmental issue. It’s not just about swimmers and children paddling - but they should be able to enjoy our waters - what about the wildlife we are wiping out and the ecological disaster that will cause? Of course we should clean up the waterways and it’s isn’t impossible to achieve, with the profits the water companies make for their foreign based owners they could be able to stop this unacceptable pollution. With a swipe of her pen , the environment secretary could force the water companies to obey the law or be taken back into public ownership.

Yes.

Ask people who use our waterways for water activities. Sore throats and ear infections are common, and if you swallow large amounts you can imagine what

The Environment Agency spend money (our money) cleaning up and repopulating depleted rivers. And one lot of discharge can decimate the whole thing. It is heartbreaking.

It is an absolute nightmare and scandal.

It is a good job the victorians didn’t take that attitude or we would be waist deep in the stuff.

It is a good job the victorians didn’t take that attitude or we would be waist deep in the stuff.

Oh come, Wwmk2. Sewage was about the only thing the Victorians didn't discharge into our waterways... 🙂

vegansrock

katie59 Of course it’s a public health and environmental issue. It’s not just about swimmers and children paddling - but they should be able to enjoy our waters - what about the wildlife we are wiping out and the ecological disaster that will cause? Of course we should clean up the waterways and it’s isn’t impossible to achieve, with the profits the water companies make for their foreign based owners they could be able to stop this unacceptable pollution. With a swipe of her pen , the environment secretary could force the water companies to obey the law or be taken back into public ownership.

Only fools swim in rivers the health advice is don’t, the rivers are cleaner now than probably the last 200yrs, with storms and floods we can never have river water in populated areas that is “safe”.
Its the pollution that we produce, even if we doubled the cost of water and nationalized the industry (we should), safe river water still would not be guaranteed. You are asking for changes that can never happen

Katie59

vegansrock

katie59 Of course it’s a public health and environmental issue. It’s not just about swimmers and children paddling - but they should be able to enjoy our waters - what about the wildlife we are wiping out and the ecological disaster that will cause? Of course we should clean up the waterways and it’s isn’t impossible to achieve, with the profits the water companies make for their foreign based owners they could be able to stop this unacceptable pollution. With a swipe of her pen , the environment secretary could force the water companies to obey the law or be taken back into public ownership.

Only fools swim in rivers the health advice is don’t, the rivers are cleaner now than probably the last 200yrs, with storms and floods we can never have river water in populated areas that is “safe”.
Its the pollution that we produce, even if we doubled the cost of water and nationalized the industry (we should), safe river water still would not be guaranteed. You are asking for changes that can never happen

I have a feeling, Katie59, that people more knowledgeable that me would strongly disagree with you. Waterways can be cleaned up and made safe for aquatic life and people. It's been done in the past. I can remember the pleasure that greeted the return of fish to the lower reaches of the Thames many, many years ago.

Anecdotally, we have a small river (or large stream) running round our boundary, probably to the extent of about a third of a mile. When we moved here 30 years ago the banks would be strewn with obvious debris from the storm water overflows after ever heavy bout of rainfall. 20 years ago Northumbria Water undertook a major project of renewing the main sewage pipes and storm overflow chambers in the area. We no longer have banks decorated with nappy liners, STs, and worse, after every downpour.

It's perfectly do-able, if the government is prepared to put the money into policing the water companies. Which they're not...

Maybe many don’t realize that the Thames has been flushed 7 times before it reaches London, rivers are our foul water drainage system and I don’t wish to swim it it thanks. River water is not a risk to the general population, those that ignore advice may get ill, because however much of spent you can never guarantee 100% safety.
Continue improving problem areas at a cost that does not burden consumers.

Maybe many don’t realize that the Thames has been flushed 7 times before it reaches London,

What on earth does that mean? Flushed with what and by whom?

Rivers are not our foul water drainage systems, sewers are. Storm overflow discharges should be a rare occurrence, not an everyday one.

MaizieD

^Maybe many don’t realize that the Thames has been flushed 7 times before it reaches London,^

What on earth does that mean? Flushed with what and by whom?

Rivers are not our foul water drainage systems, sewers are. Storm overflow discharges should be a rare occurrence, not an everyday one.

By all of us, our waste travels to the sewage works where they take out most of the nasties most of the time, what come out into our rivers is far from pure H2O.

Who is to blame, the government or the water companies?