River safety fears prompt renewed nationalisation calls

Reports that England’s rivers are not safe for swimmers have prompted renewed calls for nationalisation and the Environment Agency to insist water companies do not “mark their own homework”.

An investigation by The Times newspaper on 3 August claimed rivers in England are not tested enough to be considered safe for swimming.

According to the newspaper, 86 per cent of England’s rivers fall short of the EU’s ecological standard – the minimum threshold for a healthy river – compared to 75 per cent a decade ago.

It also claimed that half of all stretches of river monitored by the Environment Agency in England exceeded permitted limits of at least one hazardous pollutant last year, including toxic heavy metals and pesticides.

Responding to The Times report, Labour’s shadow water minister, Luke Pollard said it was “clear that water companies aren’t taking their responsibilities to safeguard our waterways seriously”.

“Our rivers should be there for all of us to enjoy, but now they’re not even meeting the minimum safety standards,” added Pollard.

“We need to take our water into public ownership, so we can not only get bills down, but also protect our environment.”

A report published by the Environment Agency last month warned water companies’ efforts to protect the environment in 2018 were “simply unacceptable”.

The report stated that last year marked a reversal of the gradual improvements seen since 2011, with serious pollution incidents on the increase.

But the Environment Agency chair, Emma Howard Boyd hit back at the report in The Times over the weekend, which she said was “wrong on most counts”.

Howard Boyd said rivers in England are not currently certified as safe for swimmers because there is not current system of certification.

She also added that water companies are not “free to pollute” and have to meet “tough standards” set by the law and the Environment Agency.

“We will always press for the toughest penalties, but sentencing is a matter for the courts who fine on a case-by-case basis,” she added.

“We also been calling for tougher financial penalties to drive better environmental performance given fines are currently a fraction of turnover.”

She also insisted that water companies are not allowed to “mark their own homework” or “set their own fines”.

“If they commit a serious offence we will always prosecute them, and will seek the highest possible penalties,” said Howard Boyd.

“But where there is less harm, and the damage they have done can best be remedied quickly by local partners, we do in some cases accept enforcement undertakings, by which the company commits to respect the law and provides money to make good the damage.”