England’s water firms issue apology for sewage spills, announced funding for upgrades
Water and sewage companies in England have issued an apology for their slow response in addressing sewage spills. The spills led to widespread backlash from the public, campaigners and the government.
In 2022 raw sewage was dumped into rivers and seas an average of 825 times per day, totalling 1.75 million hours.
Water UK, the industry body representing England’s nine water and sewage companies, delivered the apology. Ruth Kelly, Water UK chair, told the BBC: “We’re sorry about the upset and the anger from the fact that there have been overspills of untreated sewage onto beaches and into rivers over the past few years. We’re sorry that we didn’t act sooner, but we get it.”
The nine companies also pledged to triple funding for sewer system upgrades, provide the public with real-time data on sewage spills and aim to reduce spills by up to 30% by 2030. The companies have said they will invest an additional £10 billion, but this could result in higher bills for customers.
Whilst campaigners accept the apology, they are criticising the suggestion that the cost of the necessary upgrades would be borne by customers rather than shareholders.
Sewage spills pose health risks to humans that can potentially lead to illnesses such as stomach bugs, respiratory issues, and infections. Wildlife, including fish and insects, also suffers kidney problems and fatalities due to sewage pollution.
