It was reported by the BBC on 23 September 2022 that the Environment Agency was investigating the cause of waste, described as “stinking of sulphur”, in a major river. Photographer Graeme Peacock had filmed the dirty water pouring into the River Tyne between Wylam and Newburn the previous morning. He was quoted as saying that it was “horrendous” and the “worst discharge I’ve ever seen in 20 years at that particular point”.
Peacock had been walking his dogs on the Wylam Riverside Walk, at Heddon-on-the-Wall, and had commented that other dog walkers “were all horrified” by the amount of discharge.
This is just one of hundreds of examples of pollution in our rivers in this country, noted in recent years.
March for Clean Water
On Sunday 3 November, there will be a huge national march through the streets of London with the purpose, in the words of the organisers, to “rescue our rivers”. They point out that over 90% of England’s freshwater habitats are in unfavourable condition, blighted by agri-pollution, over-abstraction and raw sewage.
They go on to say that:
“a growing coalition of NGOs, community groups and #RiverChampions will be marching to reclaim our right to clean and abundant water for all people across the UK.”
Just how polluted are our rivers?
The River Trust State of our Rivers 2024 Report is a damning indictment of those who have been responsible for the health of our rivers over the last decade or so. It is very sobering to read that they say that the data is clear: “Our rivers are in a desperate state of affairs”.
Indeed, they say that not a single stretch of river in England or Northern Ireland is in good overall health and that “just 15% of English, 31% of Northern Irish and 50% of Irish river stretches reach good ecological health standards.” The report also goes on to note that toxic chemicals that remain in ecosystems for decades, “pollute every stretch of English rivers”.
Meanwhile, as rivers have become more and more polluted, water companies profits have grown higher and higher. It was reported by Statista that the highest revenue of any water company in 2023 was that of Thames Water, whose revenue was a staggering £2.1807 billion, while our own Northumbria Water, here in the North East, had a revenue of £849.9 million. There can be no excuse then for the neglect that has gone into protecting our vitally important rivers.
Where is Ofwat in all this?
There is of course a regulatory body; The Water Services Regulation Authority (Ofwat), which should be ensuring that the privatised water companies do just that and look after our rivers properly. It was noted in the Financial Times in July last year that Ofwat had been set up in 1989 to monitor the newly privatised water industry. However, it was also stated that by last year, the watchdog had been accused by politicians and experts of failing to deliver the financial or management discipline that was promised 34 years previously. It was argued that regulatory capture had taken place and Ofwat had become, “a watchdog in thrall to the very companies and people it is expected to oversee.”
It was further noted that Lord Andrew Tyrie, former chair of the Competition and Markets Authority and a Tory peer, had called for a thorough review of regulation in the UK, saying some regulators had been “captured by vested interests”. Additionally, it was argued that “a regular churn of staff between the regulator and water companies — not least the appointment of former Ofwat chief executive Cathryn Ross as the new interim co-CEO at Thames Water — has added to a sense that the watchdog is overly cosy with investors and water companies at the expense of consumers.”
In response, Ofwat was reported as saying that it followed standard civil service procedures. However, Jonathan Portes, professor of economics and public policy at King’s College London, was reported as saying that it “doesn’t have to be the case that there’s corruption or even implicit rewards. It’s just that the regulators spend more time talking to investors and companies than they do to consumers.”
Comments from well-known campaigners
A number of famous environmentalists have commented on the issue of pollution in our rivers:
Bear Grylls, the adventurer and writer has commented that, “this has gone on for far too long and, as everyone knows, rivers are the bloodline and life of the land … we have a moral and civic obligation as a nation to protect and sort this horrific issue out. Our rivers are life.”
The writer Robert Macfarlane has stated: “Folks—Britain’s waterways are dying. We know this now. Our rivers are on life support. So, on 3 November come to London and join the march to demand change and reclaim the right to clean water.”
Chris Packham, the naturalist and nature photographer has said:
“We are a nation of shopkeepers swimming in a sewer, so what does that say about us? It says it’s time to close the till and cut the crap. I’m sick of being ripped off, fobbed-off, lied to and poisoned by greedy rich bastards, inept regulators and lazy governments. Let’s spill out of the rivers and onto the streets and put the shits up them.”
Meanwhile Feargal Sharkey, musician and activist and former lead singer of the Undertones. who has spoken many times so eloquently said of the march:
“We call on the government to end the environmental devastation being inflicted upon our rivers, lakes and seas. It stops here, it stops today, it stops now. End pollution, end polluting for profit. Government must order an urgent root and branch review of the failed oversight and regulation of the water industry. It is now time to hold to account those industries that for too long now have been allowed to knowingly and wantonly pollute our waters driven by nothing more than profit and greed. We call on everyone in the country who is concerned or angry at the state of our waters to join us and march.”
Meanwhile on 16 October it was reported by The Guardian that a private members’ bill sponsored by Clive Lewis MP, would ensure that. “the future ownership of the water industry should be decided by a citizens’ assembly to remove decision-making from boardrooms and impose democracy on the sector”,
It seems that both the public and politicians have had enough of the pollution in our rivers….
Where is the march?
The marchers are to meet at 11 am at the Albert Embankment by the River Thames in London and are set to leave at 11.45am.
If you would like to attend the march in London on 3 November and need any support or help in getting there, please see this March for Water instagram post here.
