The head of the Environment Agency said that the UK must do something different to solve its ticking-time bomb water crisis.
Sir James Bevan called out for innovative ideas to clean rivers. These have been under scrutiny due to high levels of pollution.
MPs last month stated that England’s waterways are in a mess. Many contain a chemical mix of sewage, agricultural waste and single-use resins that can harm swimmers and wildlife.
Sir James stated Tuesday that there had been significant progress in protecting and managing the enhanging waters over recent decades. However, a different mentality was needed in order to shift the dial.
Two years ago, I stated that we all need to think differently if the climate emergency is to be addressed successfully.
Today, I am appealing to you to think differently to defuse another ticking bomb: the water crisis.
Sir James supported the idea for a network to assist in monitoring rivers. This platform would allow citizens to input water quality readings, which could be verified by others through a Wikepedia.
He said: I like this concept. I like the idea behind it: that we all are responsible for the health of our waterways. It could provide practical benefits such as better understanding of the river’s current status in real-time, allowing us to take better and faster decisions. He stated that the Environment Agency was considering doing something similar.
The boss of the organisation stated that he also liked the idea of getting energy out of mine water. However, mine water can carry pollutants into rivers because it leaks from abandoned mines.
What if we could solve this problem? Sir James suggested a solution that both helps local communities and addresses a global problem.
A separate report from January cited concerns about the water quality of rivers. Another report last year stated that rivers, lakes, and streams in England had some the worst water quality in Europe.
A regulator wrote last week to water companies, asking for bonuses to be reined in in the event that water companies dump sewage into UK waterways.
Sir James also advised the public Tuesday not to flush wetwipes down the toilets or pour cooking oil down the sink. Both of these actions pollute water sources and were unacceptable.
