[Main Image by Marcin from Pixabay]
Water pollution is posing a serious threat to the UK’s waters, impacting aquatic life, human health, and the future vitality of our environment. The excessive quantity of toxic water pollutants released into rivers, streams and reservoirs demands immediate action on behalf of communities, governments and industries.
The reality of water pollution is not forgiving, producing rivers too toxic to swim in, unsafe drinking water, increased risk of viruses and disease, and pushing entire ecosystems to the brink of collapse. In order to tackle such a pressing issue, it’s important to know the facts and figures behind water pollution and how it affects us on an individual and global level.
Here are 10 facts about water pollution that can help you understand the cause, effect, and repercussions of polluted water.
1. UK Rivers Declining Health
Water pollution is contributing to the massive decline in the health of UK rivers. With over 1500 rivers meandering throughout the United Kingdom, a staggering 86% of them have failed to achieve “good ecological status” as reported by the Environment Agency. [ref: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/regulating-for-people-the-environment-and-growth-2020/regulating-for-people-the-environment-and-growth-2020]
England has only 3 rivers classified as ‘swimming rivers’, and at the end of 2023 all 3 received ‘poor quality status’. This creates major concerns around the declining water quality of rivers that were previously considered to achieve a ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ status. [ref: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/dec/01/england-swimming-rivers-poor-water-quality-status]
Poor ratings are the result of the rivers not meeting certain criteria such as cleanliness and presence of specific pollutants. This occurs from a number of activities, from sewage discharge, agricultural runoff and industrial waste, but the concerning issue is that whilst these activities increase in volume, testing water quality is declining. In 2021, it was reported that water pollution testing in England was only conducted 41,519 times, less than half of the nearly 100,000 reported tests done in 2012. [ref: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/sep/02/river-testing-england-fallen-sharply-decade-data]
2. Urbanisation Is Polluting Our Waters
The ever-growing world population is putting an unruly amount of stress on our waters due to the constant outpour of water pollutants found in household cleaners, industrial and municipal wastewater, and untreated sewage. In 2020, around 18% of water bodies in England were considered to be contaminated from urban areas such as towns and cities. [ref: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/state-of-the-environment/the-state-of-the-environment-the-urban-environment]
Over 80% of the UK lives in urbanised areas [ref: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581817300435], with each household using around 146 litres of water per day [ref: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1211708/liters-per-day-per-person-water-usage-united-kingdom-uk/]. This water makes its way to water treatment centres whose responsibility it is to treat the water of any toxins, chemicals and solid waste before discharging it back into natural bodies of water - yet, this isn’t always the case. In 2020, water companies let raw sewage back into waters over 400,000 times [ref: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/sep/13/government-failing-to-stop-sewage-discharge-into-english-rivers-says-charity] and along with it a number of toxins that cause illnesses such as diarrhoea, gastroenteritis, and typhoid fever [ref: https://www.in.gov/health/eph/onsite-sewage-systems-program/diseases-involving-sewage/].
Other household items such as cleaning products and garden fertilisers can also contain “forever chemicals” (PFA’s) [ref: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-are-forever-chemicals-pfas]. Forever chemicals are a category of specific compounds that resist heat, grease, water, and oil, making them difficult to remove from bodies of water, and with the increase of products containing PFA’s, it’s now being discovered in our drinking water [ref: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/dec/01/forever-chemical-in-english-tap-water-samples-carcinogenic-who-rules]. The study of forever chemicals in water and their impact on human health has yielded some concerning results, with illnesses such as liver cancer, decreased infant and foetal growth, and abnormally high cholesterol levels [ref: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/pfas-forever-chemicals-health-risk-water].
3. Plastic Is Overwhelming Our Waters - And Our Bodies.
It’s estimated that around 150,000 tonnes of plastic enters the marine environment around the UK each year. Waste plastics such as single-use plastics, tyres, and is known to contain tiny plastic particles known as microplastics which infiltrate bodies of water and pollute aquatic ecosystems.
The introduction of microplastics into aquatic environments result in a series of health complications for aquatic species, such as reduced food intake, behavioural changes and development disorders. More concerningly, researchers found that in 2021, water companies were thought to be the main source of microplastics being discharged into waters due to untreated wastewater. [ref: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7924819/ https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/may/13/water-firms-are-main-source-of-microplastics-in-uk-rivers-study-says]
The presence of microplastics also raise concerns about human health, especially when present in drinking water. In 2021, a study found that microplastics, when ingested, can cause cell damage and cell death, allergic reactions, and damage to cell walls. This raises serious concerns around how plastic results in contaminated water and the long-term health effects all species face if nothing is done to reduce it. [ref: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/dec/08/microplastics-damage-human-cells-study-plastic]
4. The Agricultural Industry Is Making Humans & Our Waters Sick.
We owe a lot to agriculture for producing a majority of our food and produce, however, in the last decades it’s been discovered that agricultural practices may be doing more harm than good to our health, waters and surrounding environment.
The agricultural industry is known for its use of chemical pesticides and fertilisers, as well as producing high quantities of sewage and manure. The issue doesn’t lie in the existence of these substances, but via agricultural runoff, where large amounts of pollutants are discharged into water. In January 2024, it was reported by the Guardian that 83% of waters are currently polluted by sewage and agriculture. [ref: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/jan/30/english-rivers-pollution-sewage-agriculture-uk]
The introduction of these harmful compounds not only threatens human health, but poses a serious threat to the overall water quality of rivers. In Spring of 2023, the UK’s River Wye was downgraded after a wildlife review with calls to take action on the harmful effects of farming pollution, projecting an insecure future about the safety of our waters and calls for immediate action to restore and rebalance the rivers back to health. [ref: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/may/30/river-wye-has-health-status-downgraded-by-natural-england-after-wildlife-assessment]
5. Waterborne Diseases Are Risking Our Health
Disease brought on by contaminated water is no new discovery, however, a majority of the dangerous pathogens and viruses present in our waters today are a direct result from industrial, urban, or agricultural water pollution. In 2020 alone, there were 400,000 cases of untreated sewage being discharged into the UK’s waters, raising concerns about drinking water quality and its impact on human health and surrounding environment. [ref: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-56590219]
In 2022, more than 2000 people reported sickness after being in contact with the UK’s rivers and seas. The illnesses experienced by individuals range from gastroenteritis, to skin infections, and ear, eye & throat infections, as reported by Surfers Against Sewage (SAS). [ref: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqvpj0w6xveo https://www.sas.org.uk/waterquality2022/human-health/sickness-reports/ ]
The effects of these harmful compounds are not only exclusive to humans, but have devastating effects on aquatic environments such as cases of cancer, reproductive issues, and a build up in heavy metals resulting in impaired smell and inability to locate food. [ref: https://www.the71percent.org/how-are-fish-affected-by-water-pollution/]
6. There Is A High Cost To Water Pollution
The planet has seen immense population growth over the last few decades, and with that, the need for larger industries and more products have been at the forefront of an ever-growing population. Yet, the cost of an expanding global community comes at a price.
Industrial pollution such as water released from mines has raised concerns due to the high amount of toxic heavy metals such as copper, zinc and lead are discharged into nearby waters. It’s thought that globally, metal-mining affects around 23 million people due to exposure to the toxic waste released into drinking water, rivers, streams and oceans. [ref: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-66880697]
Gaining control of this issue involves financial intervention, and in 2021, Natural Resources Wales reported that it will cost around £282 million to reduce the amount of toxic chemicals entering their waters. Another solution was implemented in Truro, England, where a mechanic pump was installed to reduce the polluted mine water out of the affected area, costing the government around £8M a year. [ref: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-58276244 https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-26573994]
7. Our Waters Are Struggling To Breathe
Water and aquatic species don’t immediately come to mind when thinking about oxygen, yet the need for this resource is just as important to their quality of life as it is ours - and it's declining due to a cocktail of nutrients, wastewater, and untreated sewage.
Nutrient runoff is sourced back to agricultural practices, with many pesticides and fertilisers containing traces of nitrates and phosphates. These two compounds are natural catalysts for the growth of algae - a naturally occurring organism that feeds on oxygen. The overwhelming growth of algae can deplete oxygen out of water, causing “eutrophication” or ‘dead zones’, where bodies of water become environmentally hostile and no longer able to support a natural habitat. [ref: https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/eutrophication.html]
In 2022, the Environment Agency warned people away from Windermere lake due to the intoxicating amount of blue-green algae - a form of algae that can kill animals and make humans ill. This event may unfortunately predict one of many future rivers that become toxic to humans and aquatic species as nutrients run rampant in our waters. [ref: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cumbria-65927789]
8. Life In Our Waters Is Declining
The presence of sewage, mine-water, chemicals and industrial substances infecting the UK’s water are resulting in a slow and indefinite decline of aquatic species. From entire ecosystems being void of life, to harmful interruptions to the food chain, the current state of our waters is creating ecosystems unable to sustain life.
Since 1940, the natural environment has witnessed a 41% decline of UK species. The terrifying decline can mostly be attributed to pollution and the way in which our natural landscapes are utilised and resourced. Globally, 66% of marine life is under threat of decline due to the ill-health of the waters, whether it be plastic ingestion, chemical poisoning, or an increase of water-borne diseases. [ref: https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2019/october/the-state-of-nature-41-percent-of-the-uks-species-have-declined.html https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2019/may/one-million-animals-and-plants-face-extinction.html https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-57092135]
Britain falls into the ‘worst’ 10% of countries regarding decline in biodiversity, with a large percentage of this being attributed to the post-industrial revolution and constant increase of pollutants in the environment. If this issue persists, then we can predict a sad reality without the necessary organisms and wildlife to maintain a healthy environment. [ref: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/10/nearly-half-of-britains-biodiversity-has-gone-since-industrial-revolution]
9. Water Pollution Contributes To Global Warming
Although water pollution is not viewed as a primary contributor to global warming, its effects on the environment have a substantial impact on the rate in which climate change occurs.
Compounds such as nitrates and phosphates in healthy doses are helpful to the natural balance of the water's cleaning system, however, in high doses, these compounds encourage the rapid growth of algae, resulting in algal blooms. Algal blooms vary from toxic to non-toxic, however, the risks occur when specific algaes produce methane - a greenhouse gas - during its life-span and upon decomposition.
This issue creates a sort of cyclical event, where one entity contributes to the other. A study by the Met Office found that between 2010-2019, UK Summers were 13% wetter [ref: https://rmets.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/joc.6726], as well as winters at 12%. These events are causing further harm to the environment as more contaminated water spills out into natural habitats, with issues such as eutrophication becoming even more of a threat to our waters in the face of climate change. [ref: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/eutrophication-risk-in-english-rivers-under-climate-change]
10. Lack of Accountability Is Contributing To The Problem
When tackling problems as large as water pollution, government interventions are needed to help maintain strict regulations by holding industries accountable and enforcing effective frameworks, yet in the case of water pollution, the policies in place are simply not good enough to deter illegal activity and ‘bending’ of the rules.
In 2021, BBC Panorama discovered that water companies had been illegally dumping sewage into UK waters, with 7 out of 10 water companies discharging sewage before necessary treatment. In the agricultural industry, it was also found that livestock farming polluted UK rivers 300 times in 2021, yet only 6 farms went on to be prosecuted. [ref: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-56721660 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-63961659]
The Environment Agency also reports 400 illegal waste sites still active, and larger entities such as the World Health Organisation also do their part to control the quality of drinking water and potential pollutants, however, the real challenge seems to lie in enforcing the most effective regulations in order to improve our water's health.