Labor vows to crack down on water companies dumping sewage as waterborne diseases surge

Waterborne diseases have “led to thousands of hospitalizations” since 2010, Labor said, vowing to take special measures against water companies dumping sewage into Britain’s rivers and seas.

Cases of water-borne diseases such as dysentery have soared by almost 60% in 14 years, according to the party’s analysis of NHS admissions data.

According to Labor, the number of hospital admissions due to water-borne illnesses has increased from 2,085 in 2010/11 to 3,286 in 2022/23.

Statistics show that last year alone more than 120 people were diagnosed with leptospirosis, a rare infection also known as Weil’s disease that causes fever and vomiting and was first diagnosed in 2010 Twice the number of people suffering from the same disease.

One way you can contract the disease is by getting fresh water containing urine from infected animals into your mouth, eyes or wounds during activities such as kayaking and outdoor swimming, according to the NHS.

Data this week showed storm overflows in 2023 sent sewage into rivers and oceans for more than 3.6 million hours, more than double the previous year.

Data released by the Environment Agency show that sewage leaks have reached an all-time high, with 464,056 leaks expected to occur in 2023, an increase of 54% from 301,091 in 2022. Raw sewage dumped into the English Channel has left every marine species in the water “rich in cocaine, amphetamines and ecstasy”, a marine biologist revealed this week.

Professor Alex Ford told independent The amounts of these drugs are so small that an overdose will not kill aquatic life, but the drugs, especially cocaine, amphetamines and ecstasy, may alter their behavior.

Anger is growing over the state of pollution in England’s rivers and coasts, with no rivers rated in overall good condition and hundreds of pollution risk alerts issued at popular beaches across the country last year.

Anger at the water industry intensified on Thursday as Thames Water revealed its funding crisis deepened as shareholders refused to provide the troubled utility with extra cash.

It is understood investors withdrew a funding plan agreed last summer after regulator Ofwat refused to yield to the debt-laden water giant’s demands for a 40% rise in customer bills, relaxed capital spending requirements and leniency. Penalties for failure to meet targets.

Labour’s shadow environment secretary Steve Reid said: “It is disgusting that the Conservative government has turned a blind eye to illegal dumping of sewage, resulting in thousands of people being hospitalized.

“To make matters worse, consumers face higher water bills while water bosses receive multi-million dollar bonuses.

“Labour will introduce special measures for water companies to clean up their water. We will tighten regulations so that water bosses who break the law face criminal charges and give regulators new powers to prevent any bonuses from being paid until water bosses clean up their mess.

“Under Labour, polluters – not the public – will pay the price.”

Sir Keir Starmer’s party has also pledged to end self-monitoring and force all companies to monitor every water outlet with independent oversight, as well as impose stiff fines for illegal discharges.

Richard Walker, former chairman of Surfriders Against Sewage, said: “Labour’s plan will take the tough action necessary to get our vital utilities back working in the public interest.

“Everyone should be able to enjoy our beautiful coastline and rivers without having to worry about getting sick because some fat cats have been milking the dividends instead of investing in major improvements.”

Richard Benwell, chief executive of Wildlife & Countryside Links, said: “Pollution and nature loss is a public health disaster. By cleaning up dirty rivers, curbing air pollution and bringing nature back to life, the NHS can save millions of dollars every year. Billion dollars. All parties should make big polluters pay and ensure water utilities invest in natural restoration for the sake of public health.”

Typically during heavy rains, storm overflows release raw sewage into rivers and oceans to prevent sewer backups.

Water companies say they want to triple investment to £10bn between 2025 and 2030 to tackle the problem, with the money to be paid for through consumer bills.

A Tory spokesman said: “Labour’s poor statement today is entirely made up of measures that the government has already put in place under our water plan.

“This shows that, unlike the Conservatives, Keir Starmer and his party have no plan to reduce sewage leaks and hold water companies to account. They will take us back to square one.”

The government has launched a consultation to ban bonuses for water chiefs when criminal breaches occur, quadruple company inspections next year, fast-track £180m to reduce leaks and launch a reporting portal for water company staff to report breaches.