Streams, lakes, rivers and our coastal waters.

Raw sewage spills into England rivers and seas doubles in 2023

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-68665335

Appalling.

I wonder how many people are outraged about this compared to say, the colour of a cross on a football shirt.

This is what you get from privatised monopolies and inadequate regulation. It stinks!

Utterly disgusting.

Anyone who wants to take a dip in a river or the sea over here needs their head testing in my opinion.

I must admit though, I did laugh at the wildlife expert pointing out that the marine and aquatic creatures were digesting a combination of cocaine, anti depressants and contraceptive pills!

I know it's not funny, but I still laughed!

Clovius Boofus wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 27, 2024 7:27 pm

Streams, lakes, rivers and our coastal waters.

Raw sewage spills into England rivers and seas doubles in 2023

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-68665335

Fergal Sharkey of the Undertones fame is heavily envolved in keeping tabs on water pollution… he files regular reports on water companies flouting the rules. It was Sharkey that first warned that Blackpool was dangerous due to raw sewage last summer… a couple of weeks before the beeches were closed due to contamination needing a huge cleanup. Privatisation was the answer…

We’re still paying for Maggie’s farm on a daily basis.

He's been on C4 News this evening.

Pathetic. Disgusting. Dereliction of duty. And the people at the top keep getting paid more and more as the years go on. Whether it be roads, public transport, childcare, healthcare... infrastructure seems to be dropping to bits and bills sky high. And is it any wonder there seems to be a dwindling of basic public respect and manners when the people at the top lie, deceive and cheat.

(Rarely post on political stuff since this messageboard stopped it - something I generally agree with, the board's a much better place for it.)

Thank goodness I'd finished eating my sausage mash and gravy before reading this thread. 🫣

We are an island people, yet 'we' treat our rivers and coastal waters like a cesspit.

At least you didn't call it Turd Moor.

elwaclaret wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 27, 2024 7:42 pm

Fergal Sharkey of the Undertones fame is heavily envolved in keeping tabs on water pollution… he files regular reports on water companies flouting the rules. It was Sharkey that first warned that Blackpool was dangerous due to raw sewage last summer… a couple of weeks before the beeches were closed due to contamination needing a huge cleanup. Privatisation was the answer…

We’re still paying for Maggie’s farm on a daily basis.

Many anglers do. I've been filing reports since the mid 70's. To be perfectly honest, if it wasn't for anglers, there would have been no life in our rivers for a long time now.

Yet the tree -huggers still turn up and harass us, ironic.

We’re testing more, so naturally we find more

It’s not just the uk with this issue, a quick google will show that it’s happening in various European countries

Yes things need to be done to reduce it, but our sewage network is very old and needs a lot of work doing to it

TheFamilyCat wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 27, 2024 7:33 pm

Appalling.

I wonder how many people are outraged about this compared to say, the colour of a cross on a football shirt.

I'd venture it is possible to be against both raw sewage in rivers and oceans AND be against multinational corporations and the spineless FA taking the **** with our national symbols.

In fact, some might say that on a certain level, there is a connection between the two things.

GodIsADeeJay81 wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 27, 2024 8:22 pm

We’re testing more, so naturally we find more

It’s not just the uk with this issue, a quick google will show that it’s happening in various European countries

Yes things need to be done to reduce it, but our sewage network is very old and needs a lot of work doing to it

But that was the whole magic wand Maggie waved; what sold Britain the lie Privatisation would bring investment and save the tax payer (in the 1980’s). There were going to be rules in place that replacement and updating came from the profits before shareholder payouts, guess what…

Like most of the privatised industries now it has been run into the ground the Water companies are doing their level bests to make sure it has to be re-nationalised while they walk off into the sunset enjoying their villas.

elwaclaret wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 27, 2024 8:52 pm

But that was the whole magic wand Maggie waved; what sold Britain the lie Privatisation would bring investment and save the tax payer (in the 1980’s). There were going to be rules in place that replacement and updating came from the profits before shareholder payouts, guess what…

Like most of the privatised industries now it has been run into the ground the Water companies are doing their level bests to make sure it has to be re-nationalised while they walk off into the sunset enjoying their villas.

Indeed. And the regulators who should be on top of all this never appear to be. In fact when they themselves get criticised they end up defending the utilities by default as a consequence of covering their own backs.

elwaclaret wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 27, 2024 8:52 pm

But that was the whole magic wand Maggie waved; what sold Britain the lie Privatisation would bring investment and save the tax payer (in the 1980’s). There were going to be rules in place that replacement and updating came from the profits before shareholder payouts, guess what…

Like most of the privatised industries now it has been run into the ground the Water companies are doing their level bests to make sure it has to be re-nationalised while they walk off into the sunset enjoying their villas.

It’s a combination of issues

Aging network, out of date laws/regulations and a focus on providing cheap water
The gov has got a plan as per the report here

Ending sewage dumping will mean higher water bills - report
It won’t be a cheap or quick fix though
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-65028971

GodIsADeeJay81 wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 27, 2024 9:00 pm

It’s a combination of issues

Aging network, out of date laws/regulations and a focus on providing cheap water
The gov has got a plan as per the report here

Ending sewage dumping will mean higher water bills - report
It won’t be a cheap or quick fix though
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-65028971

We need to re-privatise all essential services, and accept the increased costs that will be inevitable.
Better than filling the bank accounts of the already very wealthy.

Thankfully the whole tory sh1tshow will be flushed down the pan shortly. ..and it'll only be mentioned in debates about what was the worst goverment in the entire history of Great Britain.

The funny thing is that a lot of Tories will probably agree with you. Certainly the ones in my family.

Feargal Sharkey, "Ofwat the regulator has already highlighted and confirmed. We have already paid them all of the funding they ever needed for 30 years to fix this problem.

"We should be asking where our money's gone and what's happened to it and how you fix it"

"Water companies have learned they can pollute with impunity because the regulatory system simply isn't up to it and it has failed. And that's created the situation which has been exposed today"

Krishnan Guru-Murthy, "But that's going to require billions of spending, isn't it?"

Feargal Sharkey, "And here's the thing. We've already paid this money. The regulators confirmed it. Water companies have admitted it"

Krishnan Guru-Murthy, "But it's not sitting in a bank account somewhere ready to spend it. It is"

Feargal Sharkey, "The shareholders that have left those companies £60 billion in debt that have taken £72 billion of our money. They're the ones should be held accountable. Not a penny more of public money should go into these companies"

What a shithole we’ve become !

fidelcastro wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 27, 2024 7:40 pm

digesting a combination of cocaine, anti depressants and contraceptive pills!

Pretty sure I dated some in the 90's

elwaclaret wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 27, 2024 7:42 pm

Fergal Sharkey of the Undertones fame is heavily envolved in keeping tabs on water pollution… he files regular reports on water companies flouting the rules. It was Sharkey that first warned that Blackpool was dangerous due to raw sewage last summer… a couple of weeks before the beeches were closed due to contamination needing a huge cleanup. Privatisation was the answer…

We’re still paying for Maggie’s farm on a daily basis.

He's a bit late on Blackpool....i remember dodging turds back in the late 60's.

Privatizing the Water system & other vital utilities is sheer madness.....the British people just can't get enough of being ripped off in the name of Private Enterprise.
When it comes time to repair the damage to the water system by years of neglect.....guess who'll get to pay the tab?

elwaclaret wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 27, 2024 7:42 pm

Fergal Sharkey of the Undertones fame is heavily envolved in keeping tabs on water pollution… he files regular reports on water companies flouting the rules. It was Sharkey that first warned that Blackpool was dangerous due to raw sewage last summer… a couple of weeks before the beeches were closed due to contamination needing a huge cleanup. Privatisation was the answer…

We’re still paying for Maggie’s farm on a daily basis.

Fergal Sharkey sang “ my expectations may be high I blame it on my Youth”
It is immoral that Water companies make high profits but get away with doing unhealthy things .

Taffy on the wing wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 28, 2024 2:30 am

He's a bit late on Blackpool....i remember dodging turds back in the late 60's.

..the British people just can't get enough of being ripped off in the name of Private Enterprise.

The Thatcher masterstroke. Get the plebs to buy ten bob's worth of shares and see themselves as capitalists... taking candy from kids.

The only streams and rivers I ever let my children and now grandchildren play in are the upper stretches before they get through urban areas, it's how all waterways should be. Totally agree with the all the criticism of the pathetic water companies investment ? what f in investment? A few dry weeks we get rationing, no new reservoirs, leaks everywhere patch repairs to Victorian infrastructure and technology literally polishing a turd.
The water companies though are not totally responsible, over fertilisation and subsequent run off contributes,there was a very interesting feature on the river Wye suffering badly from this, also dodgy plumbers and inept DIYers running outlets to surface water drainsvthat discharge directly into water courses also contribute, I've witnessed this on numerous occasions and not just in domestic premises, the environment agency ought to have more dedicated staff and failure to comply should bring severe penalties.
Fingers crossed with a new government this national scandal will be addressed.

Just waiting on brexit and James Trafford being blamed now for a full house.

bfcjg wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 28, 2024 8:09 am

Fingers crossed with a new government this national scandal will be addressed.

It might be addressed but I can't see it being fixed anytime soon.

Take your money and run.

Prospects for Thames Water nationalisation increase after funding collapse

The chances of Thames Water being nationalised have risen after shareholders refused to inject £500m in emergency funding.

The shareholders rejected conditions by the water regulator, Ofwat, that would have damaged their financial returns.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/li ... iness-live

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/20 ... alisation/

As Fergal didn’t sing “ a good turd is hard to find “..unless you’re in Blackpool of course

Taffy on the wing wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 28, 2024 2:30 am

He's a bit late on Blackpool....i remember dodging turds back in the late 60's.

Privatizing the Water system & other vital utilities is sheer madness.....the British people just can't get enough of being ripped off in the name of Private Enterprise.
When it comes time to repair the damage to the water system by years of neglect.....guess who'll get to pay the tab?

Indeed and well into the seventies. We used to visit Luther/Blackpool most weekends in the summer through the seventies and it was much the same. But, the sad thing is I remember the money and joy when the beeches lost their red flags… people had almost forgotten how rotten they used to be… until recently.

Robbie_painter wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 28, 2024 9:39 am

Just waiting on brexit and James Trafford being blamed now for a full house.

I'll tick one of those off for you: Brexit is partly to blame. Our water companies no longer need to adhere to stricter EU laws about treating water and dumping waste. Also, since Brexit, water companies have struggled (due to both logistics and costs) to import the necessary chemicals required to treat waste water which would allow it to be pumped back into our water network - therefore it's easier and cheaper to dump it directly into rivers and seas.

GodIsADeeJay81 wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 27, 2024 8:22 pm

We’re testing more, so naturally we find more

It’s not just the uk with this issue, a quick google will show that it’s happening in various European countries

Yes things need to be done to reduce it, but our sewage network is very old and needs a lot of work doing to it

The three certainties of life....

Death, taxes, and Sidney desperately trying to defend the Tories.

fatboy47 wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 27, 2024 9:45 pm

Thankfully the whole tory sh1tshow will be flushed down the pan shortly. ..and it'll only be mentioned in debates about what was the worst goverment in the entire history of Great Britain.

To be replaced no doubt by an even bigger bunch of incompetents. What the country needs right now is a form of alliance that puts the country first. It's no use borrowing money to fix our current problems as it is only passing them down to future generations. We should square up to the fact that we are broke and need to raise cash from the public to fix our issues. Taxes need to rise, living standards need to fall and reality needs to set in.

LDNBFC87 wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 28, 2024 12:00 pm

I'll tick one of those off for you: Brexit is partly to blame. Our water companies no longer need to adhere to stricter EU laws about treating water and dumping waste. Also, since Brexit, water companies have struggled (due to both logistics and costs) to import the necessary chemicals required to treat waste water which would allow it to be pumped back into our water network - therefore it's easier and cheaper to dump it directly into rivers and seas.

I have to hold my hand up I voted for Brexit with a mind full of New Zealand lamb (one of the big losses, among many from the Commonwealth of joining the EU). Trusting the Tories to deliver a sensible Brexit (against my own experience), inside the Common Market (the bit of Europe we actually voted for) was my big mistake. After many years of not being sure, it is Brexit more than ever that finally made me realise the Conservatives are NEVER the answer.

CaptJohn wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 28, 2024 12:29 pm

To be replaced no doubt by an even bigger bunch of incompetents.

The very last remaining argument of a tory party bereft of
of all ideas apart from half-baked populist appeals to the braindead far right, and now held in contempt by all but the serially deluded.

CaptJohn wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 28, 2024 12:29 pm

Taxes need to rise, living standards need to fall and reality needs to set in.

Please tell me that's a typo and you mean the cost of living needs to fall.

TheFamilyCat wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 28, 2024 12:42 pm

Please tell me that's a typo and you mean the cost of living needs to fall.

No typo, just reality. We as a country are living way beyond our means and need to seriously lower our expectations.

CaptJohn wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 28, 2024 7:04 pm

No typo, just reality. We as a country are living way beyond our means and need to seriously lower our expectations.

OK. Not quite how I had interpreted 'living standards'.

I wish I had invested heavily in Utilty shares when I was younger. I could be riding on the Gravy train, if it wasn't subject to industrial action obviously!

GodIsADeeJay81 wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 27, 2024 8:22 pm

We’re testing more, so naturally we find more

It’s not just the uk with this issue, a quick google will show that it’s happening in various European countries

Yes things need to be done to reduce it, but our sewage network is very old and needs a lot of work doing to it

I would suggest you're falling over yourself to defend the indefensible.

Greenmile wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 28, 2024 12:08 pm

The three certainties of life....

Death, taxes, and Sidney desperately trying to defend the Tories.

Ah this is just as amusing as the passport one

Ignorance is seemingly welcomed because it’s far easier than understanding the problem and knowing the facts

Quite predictable for lefties, especially on here

You all seem quite happy in your little circle jerk though

dougcollins wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 28, 2024 7:37 pm

I would suggest you're falling over yourself to defend the indefensible.

Not really

I could list other problems that are making the issue worse but most of you don’t care about facts when it comes to this stuff

It’s easier for you lot to just rant about the tories

LDNBFC87 wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 28, 2024 12:00 pm

I'll tick one of those off for you: Brexit is partly to blame. Our water companies no longer need to adhere to stricter EU laws about treating water and dumping waste. Also, since Brexit, water companies have struggled (due to both logistics and costs) to import the necessary chemicals required to treat waste water which would allow it to be pumped back into our water network - therefore it's easier and cheaper to dump it directly into rivers and seas.

What are the reasons for sewage being an issue in eu countries then?

We test more now than we did when in the eu

Again, people crying about the tories and Brexit without finding out the facts first

Normal behaviour on here

GodIsADeeJay81 wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 28, 2024 8:02 pm

Not really

I could list other problems that are making the issue worse but most of you don’t care about facts when it comes to this stuff

It’s easier for you lot to just rant about the tories

deleted - wrong thread

GodIsADeeJay81 wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 27, 2024 8:22 pm

We’re testing more, so naturally we find more

It’s not just the uk with this issue, a quick google will show that it’s happening in various European countries

Yes things need to be done to reduce it, but our sewage network is very old and needs a lot of work doing to it

When Thatcher privatised the water companies, she promised that it would mean massive investment to improve the whole water, and sewage system. Instead, the privatised companies paid out billions in dividends and let the infrastructure deteriorate. Now, they say that they need to increase customers bills to pay for improvements that our bills should have been used to pay for improvements years ago. The big investment companies are laughing all the way to the bank and the Tories knew it would happen.

It's exactly the same with all the other privatised utilities as well.

https://www.unitedutilities.com/corpora ... le-water2/
What is annoying is that they talk as though they ought to get a pat on the back for investing our money to keep our rivers clean, fair enough it's a start but FFS it's basically a hole lined with concrete with pumps,why does it take so long,why can't they design something to take 100% overflow ? It's quite simple a deeper wider hole and bigger pumps but that would reduce the dividends paid to shareholders.

This is Thatcher’s Britain. Water Companies are no longer focused on water quality but giving money to shareholders. This is true of all utilities.

To be fair they werent much good at quality before and investment has been higher post privatisation than before BUT insufficient if anyone saw the newsnight episode on this. They have also run up a lot of debt. The handle on them has been far too distant and resulted in the debacle at Thames water. Posted on the PO v Mr Bates thread. I posted this towards the end of my post on there
"Just look at Thames water the mess it is in the millions given to shareholders who refuse to shell out unless bills rise 40%. The Government should fine them for their polluting until their pips squeak (Denis Healy) bankrupt them and take them over for £1
of taxpayers money to sort this."

dougcollins wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 27, 2024 8:13 pm

Many anglers do. I've been filing reports since the mid 70's. To be perfectly honest, if it wasn't for anglers, there would have been no life in our rivers for a long time now.

Yet the tree -huggers still turn up and harass us, ironic.

Not all anglers are responsible. I report slurry & contaminate spills when/if I see them. Some sections of anglers (usually the 1s without a permit or a rod licence) leave litter on the banks & discarded fishing line which in itself can cause injury & even death to wildlife. I'm definitely with you on responsible anglers unfortunately we don't all fall into that category.