The Green Party has repeated calls for water companies to be
brought into public ownership in response to the latest State of
Our Rivers report [1]. This has found not a single waterway in
England is in good overall health. The Rivers Trust study reveals
that the impact of pollution from treated and untreated sewage
and agricultural and industrial runoff means rivers are in a
worse condition than ever.
Green Party co-leader said:
“The state of our rivers is a national scandal. Despite public
outcry over our polluted waterways and coastline the latest State
of Our Rivers report shows things haven’t improved since the last
report in 2021.
“For too long water companies and consecutive governments have
failed to act. Taking our water companies into public ownership,
so they work for people, not profit, will be a clear Green Party
manifesto commitment.
“For decades, money that should have been invested in improved
infrastructure has been siphoned off to water company executives
and shareholders. It’s time to flush this failed experiment with
privatisation down the drain and for a service as vital as water
and sewage to be run for the public good.
“It should also be acknowledged that agricultural pollution
contributes to 62% of waterways in England failing to meet good
standards. We need to learn from the many innovative farmers who
are using regenerative and organic farming methods that prevent
chemical runoff into rivers.
“Our rivers should be havens for wildlife and biodiversity and
healthy places for people to enjoy. In too many cases they more
closely resemble open sewers. Green MPs will make cleaning up our
act on water pollution a key
priority.”
ENDS
Notes
[1] https://theriverstrust.org/rivers-report-2024
