Sewage in our waterways, what’s really going on…
By Amelia Groom
Plymouth is the perfect place to live if you love a dip in the sea. Whether it's for a swim, surf, or paddleboard, Plymouth offers it’s stunning sea to a range of watersports. It’s easy to get distracted by the inviting blue waters but do you ever wonder, what’s really going on below the surface…
What is sewage pollution?
Sewage is the mixture of water from a community’s supply, usually made up of used water from bathrooms, food and laundry waste, normally an accumulated result of our living waste. So, why is this bad for our waters? Often, sewage can contain bacteria or viruses that are harmful to humans. It doesn’t sound that nice, now does it?
So, why is it harmful?
A survey conducted by Surfers Against Sewage showed a strikingly high 55% of British people that participate in watersports admit to falling ill after a swim in the sea at least once in their lives. That’s over half of sea swimmers… with the most common being stomach pain, ear infections, and skin infections.
Smaller animals absorb chemicals as part of their diet, with nitrogen and phosphorus strongly present in sewage run off. Many marine and aquatic animals are at risk from these harmful chemicals. However, when sewage is dropped into the waterways, Oxygen content is reduced causing serious harm and often death to many species from insects to fish.
Are our waters at risk?
Not only is sewage having serious effects on humans and animals, but the health of our waterways is at risk. With just 14% of rivers in the UK reaching environmental standards, the quality of our waters is depleting rapidly. Excess nutrients being pumped into our waterways are creating algal blooms. These blooms absorb oxygen and deter sunlight, in turn affecting mortality rates of aquatic life.
Holding companies accountable
Just this week, in the midst of storm Babet, Welsh Water has admitted to spilling sewage into environmentally protected areas, along the Welsh coastline for the past decade. In Cardigan Bay alone, Welsh Water has spilled 1,146 days of sewage into the bay which is well known as a protected rare dolphin habitat.
In 2022, 384,000 sewage discharges were reported across the UK. Since then, the Environmental Agency has opened an investigation into UK water companies. As the largest ever UK criminal investigation into water quality, the government seems to be taking action against these polluting corporations due to serious breaches in water treatment contracts.
Be a part of the change
There are many petitions you can sign to help stop sewage pollution! Cornwall based marine conservation charity, Surfers Against Sewage have been speaking up for our waters with their water quality tracker app and government petitions since the 1990’s. In 2022, their Speak Up for Our Rivers campaign gathered over 50,000 signatures and demanded new water quality reviews for the UK.
Charities leading the change
Surfers Against Sewage: https://www.sas.org.uk/water-quality/sewage-pollution-alerts/
Marine Conservation Society: https://www.mcsuk.org/
Windrush Against Pollution: https://www.windrushwasp.org/
SOS Whitstable: https://www.soswhitstable.com/
Check the water in your local area
https://www.sas.org.uk/water-quality/sewage-pollution-alerts/safer-seas-rivers-service/
https://wikiwatershed.org/water-quality-app/
Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this piece by the author are their own – they do not and are not intended to represent the beliefs and opinions of Plymouth University, University of Plymouth Student Union or the Plymouth Gazette.
Picture credit: Unsplash