Bathing Water status for rivers?
Phill Mills
Water sector specialist | Adviser and analyst of industry trends, policy developments, opportunities
Another likely application for bathing water status for an English river. This time from Oxford City Council for a section of the Thames[1].
Whilst it’s not a straightforward solution to stop a combined sewer overflow (CSO) discharging following heavy rainfall, there is a balance to be struck. With improving connectivity and smart networks it should be possible to notify river users when a CSO is discharging. Several water companies already do it for bathing water beaches. And more effort should be made at source, i.e. reducing surface water run-off to sewer networks through retrofit sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) – both by water companies, by developers and by owners of large-area sites – potentially with an incentive through the water company tariff structure.
The Government (Defra), the EA, Ofwat and CCWater recently set out the water industry’s role in building a resilient future[2]. Their letter suggest we need exemplary services…and real and lasting improvements to the environment for current and future generations.
Their invitation to water companies include:
· Accelerating existing plans and environmental priorities …considering the enhanced use of nature-based solutions to deliver them. (So that could include SuDS)
· Implement specific new innovative ideas, which would benefit future generations or current customers, including e.g. water resources, flood mitigation net zero or water quality.
Clearly there is an affordability concern and the writers refer to VFM for customers. But surely now is the time we should be developing innovation solutions to the increasing discharges from CSOs and the consequent impact on rivers, river life and recreational users and move on from the Victorian arrangement.
[1] https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/oct/09/oxford-stop-thames-water-firm-dumping-sewage-river
[2] https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/902487/green-recovery-letter-to-water-companies-200720.pdf