[Misc] Sewage in the sea

[BrightonCottager]

Brighton owes its growth / existence to the concept of the health-giving benefits of sea-bathing. Yet we are still seeing lots of instances of raw sewage being released into our sea every time it rains heavily and lots of times it doesn't rain heavily.

The Portobello outfall in Telscombe just east of Saltdean was used 64 times last year to discharge raw sewage.
Seaford had about 180 sewage warnings last year (these numbers are from Southern Water's own guages on its Beachbuoy website).
Bexhill/Hastings has been suffering for months from broken pumps discharfging sewage.
The media - including an article in yesterday's Sunday Times mainly about Seaford and Saltdean - are full of these stories and even local Conservative MPs are writing to ministers about it.
The Surfers Against Sewage sewage pollution app Safers Seas and River Service is gaining massive publicity and new subscribers.
The water companies have amassed £48b in debts and paid £57b in dividends since privatisation.

What are NSCer's experiences and what needs to be done?

 

[Napper]

conservative MPs writing is Ironic when most of these passed laws last year to allow this to keep happening

Was down beach yesterday and noticed a lot of foam and crap on the water edge

 

[Mental Lental]

what needs to be done?

Maybe stop voting for it?

 

[Bakero]

In 2020 265 Tory MPs voted down an amendment to the environment bill that would have legally obliged water companies not to pump sewage into waterways. Perhaps, we could vote out these shysters that care more about shareholder profits than the society they are supposed to govern.

Failing that, maybe we could join a pan-European group of countries and could set out clear rules on the treatment of waste water, That way, we wouldn't be completely beholden to the self-serving politicians that the great British public vote for. We could call it the Union of European countries or something.

 

[maltaseagull]

In 2020 265 Tory MPs voted down an amendment to the environment bill that would have legally obliged water companies not to pump sewage into waterways. Perhaps, we could vote out these shysters that care more about shareholder profits than the society they are supposed to govern.

Failing that, maybe we could join a pan-European group of countries and could set out clear rules on the treatment of waste water, That way, we wouldn't be completely beholden to the self-serving politicians that the great British public vote for. We could call it the Union of European countries or something.

Great idea but wouldn't there have to be a referendum?
That would be hijacked again!

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

Part of the terms of employment for senior Southern Water staff should be a weekly swim at designated beaches. To concentrate the mind.

 

[BrightonCottager]

In 2020 265 Tory MPs voted down an amendment to the environment bill that would have legally obliged water companies not to pump sewage into waterways. Perhaps, we could vote out these shysters that care more about shareholder profits than the society they are supposed to govern.

Failing that, maybe we could join a pan-European group of countries and could set out clear rules on the treatment of waste water, That way, we wouldn't be completely beholden to the self-serving politicians that the great British public vote for. We could call it the Union of European countries or something.

Ironically one of the MPs who voted against that amendment was Maria Caulfield - Lewes MP that contains Seaford and the Wastewater TReatment Works at Peacehaven and Newhaven! Following Brexit, MPs will get to decide what our new bathing water standards should be. Michael Gove - when Defra Secretary - told MPs that the opportunity for ministers to set different standards to those enforced by the bloc would “unquestionably” lead to tougher regulations being introduced, claiming that many “pro-leave” politicians took their stance in the 2016 referendum partly due to the appeal of setting stricter controls than the EU.

“Being different can sometimes mean being better,” Gove explained, citing Norway as an example of a European country which did not rely on the bloc for its strict environmental governance protocols.

“Leavers did not automatically advocate for diversion out of a desire to lower standards.”
Ha. We'll wait and see.

If you want to put pressure on your MP to stop raw sewage being dumped into rivers and the sea, go here: https://www.sas.org.uk/EndSewagePollution-EmailMP

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Part of the terms of employment for senior Southern Water staff should be a weekly swim at designated beaches. To concentrate the mind.

Aren't there enough shits in the sea already?

 

[Napper]

Vote Tory , get Tory

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Which channel has the most crap these days, GB News or The English?

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Ironically one of the MPs who voted against that amendment was Maria Caulfield - Lewes MP that contains Seaford and the Wastewater TReatment Works at Peacehaven and Newhaven! Following Brexit, MPs will get to decide what our new bathing water standards should be. Michael Gove - when Defra Secretary - told MPs that the opportunity for ministers to set different standards to those enforced by the bloc would “unquestionably” lead to tougher regulations being introduced, claiming that many “pro-leave” politicians took their stance in the 2016 referendum partly due to the appeal of setting stricter controls than the EU.

“Being different can sometimes mean being better,” Gove explained, citing Norway as an example of a European country which did not rely on the bloc for its strict environmental governance protocols.

“Leavers did not automatically advocate for diversion out of a desire to lower standards.”
Ha. We'll wait and see.

If you want to put pressure on your MP to stop raw sewage being dumped into rivers and the sea, go here: https://www.sas.org.uk/EndSewagePollution-EmailMP

You'd have to be a spectacularly thick Brexiteer to think that you could NOT impose more stringent regulations than the minimum water standards required by the EU.

 

[Bakero]

Ironically one of the MPs who voted against that amendment was Maria Caulfield - Lewes MP that contains Seaford and the Wastewater TReatment Works at Peacehaven and Newhaven! Following Brexit, MPs will get to decide what our new bathing water standards should be. Michael Gove - when Defra Secretary - told MPs that the opportunity for ministers to set different standards to those enforced by the bloc would “unquestionably” lead to tougher regulations being introduced, claiming that many “pro-leave” politicians took their stance in the 2016 referendum partly due to the appeal of setting stricter controls than the EU.

“Being different can sometimes mean being better,” Gove explained, citing Norway as an example of a European country which did not rely on the bloc for its strict environmental governance protocols.

“Leavers did not automatically advocate for diversion out of a desire to lower standards.”
Ha. We'll wait and see.

If you want to put pressure on your MP to stop raw sewage being dumped into rivers and the sea, go here: https://www.sas.org.uk/EndSewagePollution-EmailMP

Would that be the Michael Gove who tends to vote against measures to prevent climate change and votes for selling state-owned forests? He has voted in favour of high speed rail but that's just because he thought they were offering him a line.

I'd love to hear he wants to cut red tape at the same time as strengthening environmental regulations

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

As an aside, I see my prediction of the UK becoming a second tier nation for drug approval is bearing fruit. Post-Brexit Britain is really going well.

 

[Bakero]

As an aside, I see my prediction of the UK becoming a second tier nation for drug approval is bearing fruit. Post-Brexit Britain is really going well.

Come on, you know that's not because of Brexit. Nothing is. It was a vote that has absolutely no consequences. Move along, nothing to see here. Stop doing Britain down

 

[Pinkie Brown]

You'd have to be a spectacularly thick Brexiteer to think that you could NOT impose more stringent regulations than the minimum water standards required by the EU.

Caulfield very much falls into that category. Cloned with Nadine Dorries. As things stand she will hopefully be history next GE. Only gets elected due to the perverse boundaries of her constituency. Were it only Lewes and immediate surrounds, she'd have no chance. The rural vote gets her over the line.

 

[beorhthelm]

“Being different can sometimes mean being better,” Gove explained, citing Norway as an example of a European country which did not rely on the bloc for its strict environmental governance protocols.

“Leavers did not automatically advocate for diversion out of a desire to lower standards.”
Ha. We'll wait and see.

If you want to put pressure on your MP to stop raw sewage being dumped into rivers and the sea, go here: https://www.sas.org.uk/EndSewagePollution-EmailMP

thing is the recent legislation did increase the standards, bringing in requirement to reduce storm water overflows. the amendment mentioned want to make it zero overflow, with immediate effect. not very practical, a cynic might say was put forward to be voted down. would argue the new legislation doesnt go far enough, questions over whether enforcment works, just saying you're naughty and a fine for sewage discharge doesnt actually stop them. i like the idea of executives swimming in areas, not sure can work that in to law.

what i cant quite understand is why the storm water goes into sewage in the first place, thought was supposed to go off into waterways seperately. seems problem has been built into the system, very difficult to undo if so.

 

[CheeseRolls]

Brighton owes its growth / existence to the concept of the health-giving benefits of sea-bathing. Yet we are still seeing lots of instances of raw sewage being released into our sea every time it rains heavily and lots of times it doesn't rain heavily.

The Portobello outfall in Telscombe just east of Saltdean was used 64 times last year to discharge raw sewage.
Seaford had about 180 sewage warnings last year (these numbers are from Southern Water's own guages on its Beachbuoy website).
Bexhill/Hastings has been suffering for months from broken pumps discharfging sewage.
The media - including an article in yesterday's Sunday Times mainly about Seaford and Saltdean - are full of these stories and even local Conservative MPs are writing to ministers about it.
The Surfers Against Sewage sewage pollution app Safers Seas and River Service is gaining massive publicity and new subscribers.
The water companies have amassed £48b in debts and paid £57b in dividends since privatisation.

What are NSCer's experiences and what needs to be done?

As always the answers are complex and controversial.

Last week was all about storm water and overflowing drains. There was a hug investment in Brighton over a decade ago, where a storm drain overflow effectively a huge tank was built along the seafront to store storm overflow until the Portobelllo outflow can cope.
The sewage releases I am sorry to say, were more to do with a relaxation of the law to permit this, due to availability of the necessary chemicals. A problem bought on by....Brexit related transportation challenges.

Before I get shot down for this, let me just add. This has nothing to do with a vote and everything to do with a lack of planning, preparation and diligence. There is no law which says we have to buy these chemicals from the EU. Either encourage UK manufacture, or buy them elsewhere in the world. Just don't make some lazy legislative change and then pat yourselves on the back for getting all the big decisions right.

 

[Daddies_Sauce]

Ironically one of the MPs who voted against that amendment was Maria Caulfield - Lewes MP that contains Seaford and the Wastewater Treatment Works at Peacehaven and Newhaven!

That will be Maria Caulfield - Lewes MP a Registered Nurse who is alleged to have helped out during the peak of the pandemic, who possibly has no idea regarding infection control

 

[HH Brighton]

Vote Tory , get Tory

This

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

So what's the situation on batheing in Brighton and Hove? No seriously! Is the problem just further out in East Sussex and Bognor way or is it here as well? Weather is going to get better so ideally would like a swim. What's the advice?