[FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE]

Title: House of Commons Petition to Enforce Stricter Wastewater Filtration from Water Companies Goes Live.

Date: 21/02/2024

Location: United Kingdom

In an urgent response to the escalating environmental crisis, Philip Greenwood, the founder of Waterways Protection, has initiated a pivotal petition in the House of Commons. This significant petition demands the UK Government and Parliament enforce stricter final effluent standards, aiming to protect our waterways from pollutants that pose serious ecological harm and public health risks.

Despite the critical need for enhanced filtration, current legislation allows water providers to discharge harmful substances such as microplastics, pharmaceuticals, heavy metals, and endocrine disruptors into our environment. This negligence has spurred Waterways Protection to action, highlighting the dire need for legislative reform.

With the backing on X (formerly Twitter) of notable public figures such as Baroness Jenny Jones, a respected Green Party grandee in the House of Lords, Tracy Edwards MBE, a renowned round-the-world sailor and social activist, and Jim Murray, acclaimed actor known for his role as Prince Andrew in "The Crown," the petition has gained started to gain some momentum. But despite this, the petition has only secured 2,270 (as of 22/02/2024) signatures thus far, with a goal of reaching 100,000 by July 16th to ensure the issue is debated in Parliament.

Philip Greenwood states, "The whole reason for this petition is that water companies can legally dump all this stuff into our waterways, whether or not they are treating the sewage. What's worse, while dumping all this toxic waste, and make no mistake, that's exactly what it is, toxic waste, into our waterways, the Environment Agency formally gives them a pass as they are 'complying with the terms of their licence,' which the water companies use as evidence to say they are following the rules and therefore an environmentally friendly organisation, when nothing could be further from the truth.

This was also confirmed by Stuart, a manager from Budds Farm treatment centre in Portsmouth (previously at the centre of pollution scandals), who has confirmed that Southern Water and other water companies will not enhance the filtration of wastewater on their own without a clear indication from the Environmental Agency.

When Greenwood asked the Southern Water manager, 'why would they not voluntarily increase the standard to benefit their customers and the areas they serve,' the manager's response was, 'Why would we, if we don't have to?'

Therefore, in order to break the obvious 'catch 22,' we must insist that the government raise the standard of wastewater filtration pre-discharge (AKA final effluent) as without the rule change, there will be no action from the water companies to voluntarily do this themselves, as understood by many in the industry and confirmed by their staff on the ground, such as the previously mentioned Stuart, manager at Budds Farm, in 2022.

The petition elaborates on the necessity for the Government to introduce stronger final discharge effluent standards for water companies in England, including stringent limits beyond the current inadequate measures of 25 mg/l O2 for BOD and 125 mg/l O2 for COD. In simple terms, it means the government and water companies are turning a legal blind eye to these pollutants, so, to put that into context, even if campaigners like Feargal Sharkey and Joe Lycett got their wish for the water companies to actually start treating sewage again, it still wouldn't help avert the impending and current ecological disaster as the amount of pollutants coming from the final effluent is still too great - a point accidentally overlooked by practically all in the campaign space, and purposefully overlooked by the government and the regulators.

These changes are essential for safeguarding our waterways, public health, and preventing an impending ecological disaster. Waterways Protection and its supporters urge the public to join this crucial cause by signing the petition at https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/653988 and sharing it widely. Every signature brings us closer to a cleaner, safer environment for all.

"By ignoring this petition, we give water companies a legislative free pass to pollute at will. It's time to demand action and hold them accountable. Your voice can make a difference. Stand with us," Greenwood adds.

For further information, interviews, or comments, please contact: Philip Greenwood, Founder, Waterways Protection, team@waterwaysprotection.org, 07534 479 418

End of Release