Calls for tougher action on dumping sewage in East Riding rivers

There are calls for tougher action on the dumping of sewage in rivers across the East Riding.

The County Council's Liberal Democrats are putting forward a motion tomorrow.

It comes as figures released by the Rivers Trust shows 154 sites identified as discharging sewage in the East Riding. Bridlington had 90 spillages for a total of 194 hours last year.

You can view an interactive map and find out more here.

Councillor David Nolan, Leader of the Liberal Democrats at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said:

"In England, water companies released untreated human waste directly into our waterways over 400,000 times for a total of 3 million hours in 2020. Locally in the East Riding we have counted 154 sites identified as discharging sewage. The East Riding is an area reliant on tourism. But the map shows 154 brown spots of sewage discharges spattered across it. Much of the discharges are into the Humber and along the East Coast. The biggest concentration of sewage discharges are in South-East Holderness running along the coast out to Spurn Point.

"It is a disgrace that nothing has been done to stop this. Funding of the Environment Agency to monitor river quality and regulate discharges has been cut 75% since 2010. In 2020 only 3.6% of the pollution complaints made to the Agency resulted in penalties. Our rivers are being polluted and nothing is happening.

"The pollution of our rivers is bad for wildlife and the environment but it is also bad for the local economy. We are trying to promote our coastal area for tourism but nobody wants to paddle in sewage. The Yorkshire Wolds are in the process of being designated an “Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty" (AONB). Having raw sewage dumped into the Wolds rivers and Humber is not a good advert for the area.”

Councillor Linda Johnson is seconding the motion and said:

“Dumping raw sewage into rivers as frequently as appears to be happening is dangerous and foolish. Although a river can recover from a short, accidental discharge, prolonged and frequent exposure to the organic matter, solids, chemicals and hormones in sewage destroys a river’s natural biome which can kill fish, insects, amphibians and mammals as the rivers become oxygen-depleted, and resulting algal blooms can produce toxins which are poisonous to our pets and farm animals, and humans. As birds and mammals eat affected fish and insects, so the natural food chain is disrupted.

"It seems as if water companies have been unable to get all the chemicals required for treating raw sewage due to supply chain disruption due to Covid and Brexit, ageing infrastructure of water treatment plants and more storm surge events due to climate change. It’s vital for the health of our rivers, insects, animals and birds, that steps are taken to remedy this issue."

Liberal Democrat motion to East Riding of Yorkshire Council:

This Council notes that:

• Every river in England is now polluted beyond legal limits

• The Environment Agency rated only 14% of rivers as 'Good' in 2019

• This chemical pollution is mostly caused by sewage discharges from water companies and the run-offs of nutrients from farms

• 36% of English rivers have been damaged by water companies

• In England, water companies released untreated human waste directly into our waterways over 400,000 times for a total of 3 million hours in 2020 alone

• Government funding to the Environment Agency to monitor river quality, and regulate farms and water companies has dropped 75% since 2010/11

• In 2020 just 3.6% of pollution complaints made to the Agency resulted in penalties

• Farms are now almost never inspected, water quality is rarely tested, and water companies can pump raw sewage into rivers with virtual impunity

• In addition, tyre particles, metals from brake pads, and hydrocarbons from vehicle emissions wash off road surfaces and into rivers introducing potentially carcinogenic material into the water supply

• Our local rivers are particularly threatened by further sewage discharges.

That this Council believes that, as host nation of the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow on 31 October – 12 November 2021, the UK Government should commit to:

• Restoring Environment Agency budgets to deliver the necessary oversight

• Increasing inspection regularity of water companies and farms, and rigorously prosecuting offenders through the Environmental Audit Committee and Ofwat

• Funding local and highways authorities to introduce systems to prevent road pollutants from entering our water courses

The Council resolves to request the Chief Executive write to:

• The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs calling for the Government to make these commitments as host nation of COP-26

• The Chairperson of the Parliamentary Environmental Audit Committee to advocate for greater enforcement of existing regulatory powers

• The Chief Executive of The Environment Agency calling for urgent action to address the impact of waste-water discharges on our local rivers

• The Regional Director of the National Farmers’ Union requesting clarification on the action being taken locally by farmers to prevent nutrient run-off

• The charities River Action and The Rivers Trust expressing this Council’s support for their campaign to restore the health of Britain’s rivers.

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• east riding of yorkshire council
• East Riding
• sewage
• Environment Agency
• rivers trust