Don't just wait for the water firms – three things we can do right now to clean up Britain's rivers
Retrieved on:
Friday, August 11, 2023
Most recently, a law firm has announced its plans to take collective legal action against the UK’s six biggest water companies over alleged pollution and overcharging.
Key Points:
- Most recently, a law firm has announced its plans to take collective legal action against the UK’s six biggest water companies over alleged pollution and overcharging.
- Here are three things that would improve Britain’s rivers and coasts – which don’t require the water companies.
1. Less concrete, more soil
- The first is to develop a water-conscious construction industry: new developments need to do everything they can to reduce the amount of rainwater entering standard drains.
- Too many of these drains combine with the sewage treatment system, which then becomes overloaded during periods of heavy rain resulting in water companies releasing the overflow into the environment.
2. Develop the UK’s ‘kidneys’
- This approach is often referred to in the latest ecological jargon as using “nature-based solutions”.
- What it means is encouraging the natural biology, chemistry and ecology of an ecosystem to lend us a hand in tackling some of the biggest environmental problems.
- Along the coasts saltmarshes have the same superpower and not only must they be protected but, if possible, restored.
3. Individual responsibility
- As with many environmental issues it’s easy for us to think individual actions don’t matter, but they do.
- Improving the water quality in our rivers is clearly vital for the health of entire ecosystems, wildlife and our own wellbeing.