Burnham-On-Sea’s former MP Tessa Munt says she fears the health of local rivers will only get worse now the Government has relaxed rules on releasing untreated sewage.
Problems supplying the chemicals needed for treatment has seen the Environment Agency allowing some temporary easing of the rules.
Somerset County Councillor Tessa Munt says the water is already in a “dire” state, with 27 rivers and streams in the River Axe and Brue catchment areas having poor ecological status and all failing the chemical status test.
“That is really bad news for all of our flora, our fauna, and wildlife and people too – that’s my major concern.”
The change means water companies can seek official approval to release more untreated sewage but the Government says this is ‘strictly time limited’ and there are ‘robust conditions in place to mitigate risks to the environment’.
Tessa adds that she is about to start delivering a petition on sewage pollution in our rivers to every house in Highbridge and Burnham-On-Sea.
Wessex Water has said it has no intention of taking up this relaxation of the rules, adding that it is committed to protecting and enhancing the environment by investing £57million on schemes in Somerset by 2024.
Commenting on the use of storm overflows Wessex Water says they “ideally” would not have them but adds they are “occasionally” needed to protect properties from flooding during heavy rainfall.
The firm says what is released is highly diluted and should not contain sewage debris unless people flush items they should not down the toilet.
The Westcountry Rivers Trust says individuals need to take more responsibility for the health of our rivers.
Senior monitoring officer Simon Browning said we need to “give the water companies a hand” by thinking about what we’re flushing away.
