💧 Companies that pollute waters could face “unlimited” fines under new plans to beef up enforcement
Water companies can only release sewage during heavy rain under strictly permitted conditions. But campaigners say spills happen more often than they should, even in dry conditions. They have called on the companies to invest their profits in infrastructure.
Liberal Democrat environment spokesperson Tim Farron said: “This is pointless whilst it remains legal for water companies to dump sewage into swimming waters. It is a national scandal that water companies are allowed to pump sewage into our rivers and coastlines all because ministers refuse to get tough with them.
“Thérèse Coffey must now resign. She has had months in post with nothing but hot air and empty rhetoric. Under Coffey’s plan, sewage will be pumped into our rivers for decades to come. Shamefully, the Environment Secretary has refused to ban water companies rewarding themselves with multi-million pound bonuses. It is time we had an Environment Secretary who actually cared about the environment.
The Trust warned the public to “only flush pee, poo and paper… because the truth is you never know if that waste will be treated or whether it will end up in your local river.”
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