Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Hamas official says despite this, Hamas leadership is currently undertaking a thorough review of the new proposal
Hamas official says the response fails to meet any of the just and legitimate demands of our people
Hamas official says it is clear that the Israeli response fundamentally seeks to entrench the occupation
Reuters citing Hamas official: Group received Israeli response to Witkoff proposal
Sources to Al Mayadeen: The news regarding a press conference tonight by the head of the Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip, Khalil Al-Hayya, is false.
Lebanese Ministry of Health: One person was martyred in an Israeli drone strike on the outskirts of Nabatieh al-Fawqa
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The death toll in the al-Bureij camp massacre has risen to 19
Nicolas Maduro: Maria Corina Machado and imperialism wanted to spread violence and chaos so there would be no elections.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro: We were able to neutralize 60 attacks on oil refineries and oil facilities and arrest more than 70 individuals involved.
CNN citing sources: Talks between Washington and Tehran are close to reaching a comprehensive agreement that could be concluded during the next meeting.

Raw sewage pumped into Britain seas, rivers for 2.6 mln hrs. in 2021

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 20 Aug 2022 11:58
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

Environment Agency data exposes the staggering amount of raw sewage being discharged into tourist and bathing hotspots.

  • x
  • Raw sewage pumped to Britain seas and rivers for 2.6 mil. hours in 2021.
    Raw sewage pumped into Britain's seas and rivers for 2.6 million hours in 2021

Water providers have spent over nine million hours pumping untreated sewage into Britain's seas and rivers since 2016. The staggering amount being discharged into tourist and bathing hotspots was revealed by Environment Agency figures. 

The Labour Party, which received the statistics through Freedom of Information rules, warned on Friday that the overall level of pollution might be much worse.

Labour's environment spokesperson, Jim McMahon, accused the water companies of cutting corners in order to "dump filthy raw sewage over our playing fields and into our seas."

He added, "Labour will put a stop to this disgraceful practice by ensuring there can be enforcement of unlimited fines, holding water company bosses legally and financially accountable for their negligence, and by toughening up regulations that currently allow the system to be abused."

Read next: California governor offers new water plan amid climate change

The raw sewage has been dumped into the UK's seas and rivers for a total of 9,427,355 hours since 2016, according to the data.

It also shows a 2,553% increase in the number of monitored discharge hours between 2016 and 2021, with the Conservatives claiming that the situation is "drastically worsening". The Environment Agency documented 100,533 hours of spills in 2016. By 2021, that figure had rocketed to 2,667,452. 

Related News

Fuel shortage in Gaza leaves over 1.2 mln without clean water

Surge in water-related violence led by Israeli violence on Palestine

Polluted summer

The Surfers Against Sewage Safer Seas and Rivers Service discovered that sewage has been dumped into seas at beaches in Cornwall, Devon, Sussex, Lancashire, and Cumbria, among other areas, and warned that bathers could be endangered.

The most concentrated areas were across the south coast. 

Water companies are permitted to discharge sewage into rivers and seas in order to keep sewage treatment plants from getting overburdened during periods of heavy rain. However, critics claim that companies have failed to invest in improved infrastructure, such as storage tanks, instead opting to pay dividends to shareholders and bonuses to top executives.

Earlier this month, the Daily Telegraph reported that government efforts to cut the amount of raw sewage discharged into rivers had been put on hold. However, the government now appears to be sticking to the September deadline. 

Read next: UK fails to invest in water networks to avoid severe droughts

The Department of Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs stated that the government was "taking action" on sewage discharges, with the present administration being the first to expect water corporations to drastically reduce storm overflow emissions.

Water minister Steve Double said, "We are the first government to act to tackle sewage overflows.  We have been clear that water companies' reliance on overflows is unacceptable, and they must prioritize drastically reducing the amount of sewage they discharge."

"This is on top of ambitious action we have already taken, including consulting on targets to improve water quality which will act as a powerful tool to deliver cleaner water, pushing all water companies to go further and faster to fix overflows."

  • United Kingdom
  • Water pollution
  • water scarcity
  • Water Shortage
STOP THE HEAT: A Climate Change Coverage

STOP THE HEAT: A Climate Change Coverage

Most Read

US judges quietly consider private security amid Trump tensions

US judges quietly consider private security amid Trump pressures

  • US & Canada
  • 25 May 2025
Rep. Randy Fine, R-Palm Bay, answers a question about his House Bill 3-C: Independent Special Districts in the House of Representatives April 20, 2022, at the Capitol in Tallahassee, Florida (AP/Phil Sears)

GOP lawmaker says Gaza needs same end as WWII Japan, with nukes

  • MENA
  • 23 May 2025
President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrive to a news conference in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Washington (AP)

Rift widens: Trump, Netanyahu clash in heated phone call over Iran

  • Politics
  • 26 May 2025
Iran advisor reveals details of US-Iran nuclear talks to Al Mayadeen

Iran advisor reveals details of US-Iran nuclear talks: Al Mayadeen

  • MENA
  • 24 May 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Palestinians cross from the Israeli military Qalandia checkpoint near the West Bank city of Ramallah to occupied al-Quds on Friday, March 14, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Israeli regime arrests martyr Walid Daqqa's wife Sanaa

Spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, announces a new operation against Ben Gurion Airport on May 29, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)
Politics

Yemen announces successful hypersonic missile strike on Ben Gurion

An Israeli army vehicle moves in the Gaza Strip as seen from southern occupied Palestine, Thursday, May 29, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Hamas rejects Witkoff ceasefire plan, says alters terms

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi attends a news conference following his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow, Russia, Friday, April 18, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran denounces media speculation, reaffirms conditions for any US deal

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS