Protest with fake sewage against ugly Thames Water
In order to get the attention of the water companies to stop polluting the rivers protesters fake sewage over the stairs at the entrances to two water company buildings.
Due to sewage issues, Thames Water and Southern Water have drawn criticism, and they were among the poorest performing firms 2022 according to Ofwat.
At protest in Worthing and Reading, Extinction Rebellion(XR) participants wore hazmat suits and respirators. The demonstrators used guar gum, sugar, brown food colouring, breakfast cereal, clay fake poop, tampons, toilet paper, and baby wipes to create the fake sewage.
The materials were all non toxic, according to an XR spokesman and protestors cleaned up the mass afterward.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-64941114
Members of XR have demand that both businesses halt the unlawful discharge of untreated sewage into waterways an prohibit the payment of any bonuses, divides and exorbitant executive remuneration until the issues are resolved.
Both water providers claim they are attempting to solve the issue.
Old fashioned and underfunded
Unprecedented sewage discharges into South East beaches, the River Thames, the River Cherwell in Oxford, the River Coln in Gloucestershire and sewage floods in Berkshire and Luton gardens have all occurred over the previous several months.
Protests claim that years of excessive profit taking and underinvestment are to blame for the issue. Tom MAIDMENT, the sales manager for UCKFIELD, said that sewage dumping rendered rivers unclean an useless, while Brighton member Nicola Harries claimed that Southern Water was seriously endangering the health of swimmers.
Thames resident Steve LOWES said that Thames Water was killing the biodiversity of rivers. He added that the situation will only become worse since more rain and flooding were to be expected as a result of climate change.
Southern Water made significant investments in treatment facilities throughout 700 miles of coast, and a representative for the company said: “We do out bit in enhancing the level of bathing waters, and we are working hard to extend our efforts and collaborations.”
The business said that it will invest £2 million between 2020 and 2025 and that it has not distributed dividends to shareholders since 2017. A representative for Thanes Water stated:
“We see any releases of untreated sewage as undesirable and will engage with the government, OFWAT, and the Environment Agency to speed action to stop them from being required and are committed to be transparent.”
According to him, shareholders haven’t received a dividend in more than five years, and 2022 they approved a business plan that calls to spend an additional £2 million on top of what our clients are paying for in order to get better results.
The business stated that it wanted to reduce annual discharges in London and the Thames Valley by 50% by 2030, that it had begun a £100 million refurbishment of a sewage treatment facility in London, and that capacity was rising at facilities throughout the Thames Valley.
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