By Local MPs vote to continue dumping raw sewage into the River Humber
On Wednesday 20 October, local MPs Lia Nici and Martin Vickers voted against an amendment to the Environment Bill that would have legally compelled water companies in the UK to reduce their discharge of raw sewage into rivers and seas – including the River Humber.
The bill, intended to revamp the UK’s environmental regulations post Brexit, currently allows raw sewage to be discharged into the country’s waterways.
But Environment Secretary George Eustice advised MPs to reject amendments to the bill, just days before Boris Johnson hosts world leaders at the Cop26 climate change summit in Glasgow.
Data from the Environment Agency shows that raw sewage was dumped into British waters over than 400,000 times last year.
In 2020 alone, there were 523 spills as a result of sewer storm overflows into the River Humber, according to data released by The Rivers Trust.
Sewer storm overflows occur when excess rainwater mixed with raw sewage are deposited straight into rivers or sea, bypassing the wastewater treatment process temporarily.
Many wastewater treatment works have large storm tanks, which collect this untreated sewage and rainwater before it enters the river, and then treat it later, once the water levels in the treatment works have dropped.
According to the Rivers Trust website, swimmers should avoid rivers in which these spills take place – especially after it has been raining.
Hugo Tagholm, the CEO of environmental group Surfers Against Sewage, said: “In this most important of environmental decades, it’s shocking that the government recommended that MPs reject progressive and ambitious amendments that would protect water, air and nature.
“Why wouldn’t they want water companies to have a legal obligation not to pollute our rivers and ocean with sewage, for example?
“It beggars belief and hardly shows a commitment to be the greenest government ever. It’s time for more ambitious thinking and law that builds protected nature back into public ownership rather than leaving it to the ravages of shareholder interests.”
Lia Nici and Martin Vickers have been contacted for comment.
Contact Gi Grimsby
Email us: news@gi-media.co.uk
Follows us on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest local stories, breaking news and to join the conversation
