Plan for UK to tackle sewage crisis unveiled

There needs to be “collective action” by water firms, government and public bodies to upgrade the UK wastewater infrastructure to protect the public from the health hazards of sewage in UK waters, a new report finds.

The report by the National Engineering Policy Centre, led by the Royal Academy of Engineering, draws on the views and assessments of more than 100 stakeholders from engineering, water, campaigning, and policymaking.

As an immediate step, the report advises UK industry and the government to prioritise asset maintenance, stricter environmental monitoring, better overflow management, incentives to stem water runoff, as well as a government review of bathing water regulations.

The document also sets out actions in the long term, from “measurable targets” for the wastewater system to national strategies on sustainable drainage and water efficiency, including a potential ban on non-flushable items.

In addition, the report proposes the appointment of a “wastewater champion” to facilitate collaboration and information exchange.

One of the academy report’s contributors, Barbara Evans, Professor of Public Health Engineering at the University of Leeds, said: “150 years ago, Britain committed to eliminating cholera and made the necessary huge investments in our wastewater system.

“That investment is reaching the end of its life, and we owe it to our children and our grandchildren to make a new commitment and create a vision of a new wastewater system fit for the future.”

In response, Chief Medical Officer Sir Chris Whitty said: “Minimising human faecal organisms in fresh water is a public health priority as well as an environmental one… I therefore welcome this report … [which] clearly sets out that to reduce the public health risk significantly, a combination of practical solutions can be implemented and tailored to each context.”

The report comes as new water pollution outbreaks have hit communities in Devon and the Lake District.