Lib Dems call for “Blue Flag” status for rivers to protect from sewage scandal

EMBARGO: 00:01 Monday 25th September 

• New analysis reveals the top ten river sites with the most sewage spills last year including popular tourist spots

• Whissendine Brook in Rutland had sewage dumped for a staggering 277 days last year

• Water companies that continued to dump sewage into Blue Flag rivers would face punitive fines

The Liberal Democrats are set to call for a new Blue Flag status to protect Britain’s treasured rivers from sewage dumping, at the party’s annual conference this weekend.

Under the new policy, rivers could be designated with the special status to protect them from pollution, including water companies discharging sewage into them. This would also give river swimmers the knowledge that certain environmental standards were being met, meaning they could swim in them without fear of getting sick. Water companies that continued to dump their sewage into Blue Flag rivers would face punitive fines.

It comes as analysis by the Liberal Democrats reveals the top ten sewage dump spots in inland rivers in England last year, several which are in areas with large numbers of tourists including Cumbria and Cornwall.

The worst spill was by Severn Trent Water into Whissendine Brook in Rutland, with sewage dumped 318 times lasting a staggering 6,646 hours, equivalent to 277 days. This was followed by Burghmoor Beck in Cumbria, with 216 spills lasting 5124 hours. 

The River Meavy which runs through Dartmoor national park had sewage dumped 173 times for 3,522 hours at the Gratton wastewater treatment works site.

Beals Mill on the River Inny in Cornwall saw sewage spilled 293 times for 3,934 hours, while Elsted stream in the picturesque village of South Harting in East Sussex saw sewage dumped 141 times for a total of 3154 hours. Five of the top ten dumps in rivers were by the North West water company United Utilities.

An international Blue Flag scheme currently exists for beaches, which requires a series of environmental and other standards to be met. The Liberal Democrats are calling for a similar scheme to be set up for rivers, with legally enforceable protections that prevent sewage dumping. Individual local authorities would be able to apply to receive Blue Flag status for a river in their area. Funding to monitor and enforce the scheme would be raised through a sewage tax on water companies, with additional fines levied on those that continue to dump sewage into Blue Flag rivers. 

Under the government’s current bathing water scheme, only 14 sites in the UK listed as designated bathing waters are currently rivers or lakes.

Liberal Democrat Environment spokesperson Tim Farron MP said:

“The government is letting water companies ruin our treasured rivers with their filthy sewage dumping. 

“It is an utter disgrace that people are getting sick from sewage after swimming in their local river, while the water companies are allowed to get away with it.

“Local families and dog walkers are seeing their favourite local streams and rivers turned into cesspits, while popular tourist destinations face being ruined.

“It’s time for a new, legally enforceable Blue Flag status to protect our precious rivers from this sewage scandal. This could be funded by a sewage tax on the water companies making huge profits, along with punitive fines for those who refuse to play by the rules.”

ENDS

Notes to Editor

Full data available here

Top ten river sites with most sewage dumped last year