Protesters gathered on New Brighton beach today to call for an end to sewage pollution.
It was one of eleven protests, organised Surfers Against Sewage, that took place across the country on Saturday as the environmental charity joined forces with local campaigners for the national day of action on water quality, with each one targeting a different water company.
Local campaigners in New Brighton were pictured carrying signs and banners on the beach as they called on United Utilities to take action against sewage pollution. The protests come after the group said data, recently released by the Environment Agency, showed that water companies were responsible for pouring sewage into UK river, lakes, estuaries and seas 372,500 times in 2021.
Surfers Against Sewage said in a statement: "We are joining forces with end sewage pollution campaigners across the country to bring together the energy, anger and momentum from the last thirty years for a National Day of Action on Water Quality.
"Eleven protests across the UK. Each targeting one water company: from Scottish Water, to Northern Ireland to South West Water. Thousands of people across the UK demanding action. Now. The spotlight is on water companies. It’s time to #EndSewagePollution."
The environmental charity is calling for an end to sewage pollution into UK bathing waters by 2030 and aims to achieve the following objectives:
- Stronger and bolder targets to end untreated sewage discharge
- An enhanced testing regime which shows a true picture of the UK's water quality in real time
- Nature restoration to reduce pressure & minimise impacts on sewage infrastructure
- Increased investment from industry in infrastructure to prevent destructive practices
A United Utilities spokesperson said: “The River Mersey and the North West coastline have seen billions of pounds of water company investment over the last 30 years meaning that they are now cleaner than at any time since the Industrial Revolution.
“We understand the strength of public feeling on this matter and we are already committed to a programme of action for further improvements, building on this environmental success story.
“We will be spending £230m over the next three years to reduce the impact of storm overflows and we will be making the case to our regulator for further sustained investment longer term so that we can meet the requirements of the new Environment Act.”
