Sewage being dumped in rivers is proving deadly to our environment.
Water companies are technically allowed to dump untreated sewage into rivers, lakes and seas, but only at times of exceptional rainfall, and only then if they are already treating a specified volume of sewage, known as “flow to full treatment” (FtFT). The problem is, the sewage is polluting the rivers, causing wildlife and plants to die, toxic algae to form, and affecting insects too. Raw sewage has been pumped into our waterways for decades, but now it’s catching up, it’s becoming even more deadly.
One of the main concerns around raw sewage dumping is that blue-green algae thrives and grows in these conditions. Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, are an ancient class of organisms that create the blooms that are present nearly everywhere water is found, but thrive in warm, still bodies like lakes and ponds. It includes species which produce some of the most powerful toxins known to man, and their impact on humans is only partially understood. The incidence of freshwater harmful algal blooms (FHABs) has surged in recent years, with some scientists attributing the increase to climate change. It contains high nitrates which can cause stomach cancer and blue baby syndrome. This algae swarms the water, and contaminates the whole waterbody, becoming toxic for any fish, birds, insects, dogs, and even humans that enter it. “Phosphate nutrients from sewage, released through storm drain overflows and private septic tanks, and from treated effluent and farming, prompts an increase in algae which reduces oxygen in the water and harms or kills wildlife” - says an article from the Daily Mail.
Environment agencies have been monitoring water companies more closely in recent years, and really keeping an eye on sewage dumping in particular. In 2016, there were only around 800 event duration monitors on storm overflows, whereas last year in 2022, there were more than 12,000. This drastic increase calls for change. Another statistic we found interesting was this one: “Data released by the Labour party shows that since 2016, raw sewage has been released into the UK’s seas and rivers for a total of 9,427,355 hours”.
Most water companies hold secrecy around the topic of sewage dumping, so we don’t genuinely know the amount that gets dumped, making it difficult to make changes, and making it impossible to measure environmental and industry improvement with any confidence. In the words of The University Of Manchester student, Jamie Woodward: “How can we address the biodiversity crisis and make rivers safe for recreation if we don’t have reliable data on the volumes of pollutants pumped into them?”. Only around 14% of rivers in England have a “good” ecological status and this figure is predicted to fall to just 6% by 2027.
A lake that has received a lot of attention lately following this topic is Lake Windermere. In 2022, a conservationist, Matt Staniek, conducted research on Windermere, and raised the alarm over ‘toxic algal blooms’, and the risks the sewage was posing to wildlife, and even dogs. This came after Staniek and his dog fell ill after swimming in the lake. Many have said they want Lake Windermere under protection, to prevent raw sewage dumping in the future. There are multiple protests and petitions online regarding Lake Windermere, (and other waterways), that you can join and sign to help the cause and push for change.
The Rivers Trust website allows visitors to spectate a map, which indicates where sewerage networks discharge treated sewage and overflows of untreated sewage in England & Wales in 2022. The Rivers Trust have created this handy feature to providing you with the latest spill data available so you can make informed decisions about your local river. The company is also pushing for more transparency regarding water companies coming clean about how much sewage they are dumping.
Once sewage has been released into water bodies, there is little we can do to ‘reverse’ the effects, and prevent the impact it has on the water. However, the ecosystems can recover if they are not too overwhelmed. The real thing to focus on for the future is ensuring that more raw sewage does not end up in lakes, rivers and oceans, and also ensuring that if it does, we monitor it. While the responsibility of treating sewage lies with water companies themselves, everyone can play their part in improving water quality. Here are some ways you can help:
-Volunteer as a biodiversity monitor at https://www.riverflies.org/
-Sign petitions like these:
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/635193
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/636517
https://www.change.org/p/ukparliament-make-reducing-sewage-pollution-a-legal-requirement-in-the-uk
On a finishing note, keep away from water containing algal blooms, and report it to the Environment Agency directly or through apps such as Bloomin' Algae.
-Solutions 4 Plastic Team.