Harsh Penalties and Fines for Water Companies.

Britain's waterways in 2024 are in a dire state. Just 14% of our lakes, rivers, and seas are in what could be called pristine condition. In the 21st century, the fact that our waterways are in such a dire condition is a disgrace. Free water swimming is enjoyed by many who swim in natural waterways like lakes, rivers, and the sea. However, natural that might be, do these people realize how polluted and dirty our waterways are? If you are a natural waterways swimmer I am, by no means, slagging you off, merely pointing out the hazards.

The last government cut funding for the insurance of clean water. Members of staff and water experts left. Thus our waterways became more filthy because rules put in place to ensure our waterways stayed clean declined. This February Rishi Sunak did intervene and up funding for waterway cleanliness. However, our waterways are constantly under threat from sewage, chemicals from farmers, climate change, and general rubbish.

Of course, the way our drinking water is cleansed and dispatched to us via the water system is not perfect. United Utilities our water company in the north-west of England had a problem with some bacteria that got into the water system. Eventually, the company fixed the problem but not until it had disrupted our water supply. We received £60.00 compensation, which is a joke, considering the money these water companies are raking in.

The new government of Keir Starmer is to tighten the rules of keeping our waterways clean. Under the new rules, water companies will be fined if they are pumping raw sewage into seas, lakes, and rivers. Pumping such effluent into our waterways is a dereliction of duty. Water companies of all people, should know the hazards of allowing such things and turning a blind eye. Water company bosses could face imprisonment for such acts and rightly so.

Such filth in our waterways can produce horrible forms of life like bacteria. It is not only harmful to humans but also to wildlife, especially creatures that live in the water and live alongside it.

Green groups are cautiously welcoming these new measures. It is thought that these new enforcement rules will come into force next year. Once these rules are introduced let us hope that these rules do what they say on the tin. In other words, where wrongdoing is suspected, it should be investigated. These companies if found guilty should be fined heavily and those in charge should be brought to book. Severn Trent a water company responsible for parts of the Midlands water supply recently gave their boss a massive pay rise. Even, when they were fined, for knowingly dumping sewage into bodies of water.

The new water bill will also see monitoring of sewage overflow and the reporting of discharges in real-time. Data will be made available to people who wish to swim in natural bodies of water. Environment Secretary Steve Reed said: "The public is furious that in 21st century Britain, record levels of sewage are being pumped into our rivers, lakes, and seas. After years of neglect, our waterways are now in an unacceptable state". Mr. Reed said, "Under this government, water executives will no longer line their pockets whilst pumping out this filth".

Water companies as with energy companies, etc, in this country, are clearly more interested in making their shareholders happy. Water companies are making money hand over fist and do not give a damn about customers or the environment. Farmers too need to be held to high standards when it comes to leaking sewage, chemicals, etc. Our sewer system is also collapsing most dating back to the Victorian period, but that's another story.

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