We’re delighted to share this thought on the (frankly alarming) state of water in the UK from our friend and fellow sustainability champion, Penelope Allard, Director of Wild Bookkeeping Ltd.
Climate change is no longer a distant threat. It’s here and affecting everything, including our rivers and seas. Six of the ten wettest years on record have occurred since 1998, and the last decade has been wetter than ever. For those of us who swim in open water, checking for sewage alerts before heading out has become second nature.
But why does rainfall so often mean pollution in our waters? Are water companies entirely to blame? Or is there more to it?
A wake-up call on water
In June 2023, a conversation with my local MP led to an invitation to my first Water Summit in Southend-on-Sea. I arrived fired up, expecting quick fixes, clear accountability, and an apology. What I got instead was a clearer picture of a complicated problem. Our sewer systems, designed in the Victorian era, aren’t built for the climate and population pressures we see today.
In total, we’ve hosted six Water Summits, bringing together MPs, Anglian Water, local business owners, swimmers, the Environment Agency, and the Port of London Authority. These events are now transitioning into a community-led initiative, and we’re launching a new charity, Waterwatch UK.
So, what’s going wrong?
The UK has a combined sewer system. That means rainwater and wastewater share the same pipes. When there’s heavy rain, these pipes get overwhelmed. To prevent flooding, Combined Sewage Outlets (CSOs) open and release untreated sewage mixed with rainwater straight into rivers and seas.
In Southend, CSOs are now monitored in real time. You can track data here: Anglian Water Storm Overflow Map.
We need long-term solutions. That means either increasing sewer capacity or reducing the load on the system and that’s where we can all make a difference.
Blockages and misconnections: a hidden menace
Two significant problems are making things worse: blockages and misconnections.
Blockages are caused mainly by:
- Wet wipes (even ones labelled “flushable”)
- Fat, oil, and grease from kitchens
- Nappies and sanitary products
Anglian Water clears around 40,000 blockages a year. That’s one every 5 minutes. Most are preventable. They have installed sensors to spot issues early, and, so far, they’ve stopped 3,400 blockages in their tracks.
Remember the 3Ps rule: The only things you should flush are Poo, Pee, and (Toilet) Paper.
A misconnection is when:
- Rainwater from roofs is incorrectly connected to sewage pipes, or
- Sewage pipes are wrongly connected to surface water drains.
Either way, the system becomes overloaded, or worse, raw sewage ends up in rivers. Thorpe Bay may have lost its Blue Flag status due to a misconnection. Some water companies are now using trained sniffer dogs to detect these problems.
What can be done? Practical fixes that matter
This isn’t just about blaming big water companies. We all have a part to play.
Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS): These use underground tanks, trees, and plants to soak up excess rainwater. They help manage flood risk and boost biodiversity.
Rethink outdoor spaces: Avoid artificial turf. Use real grass or low-maintenance options like clover. Use porous materials for patios and driveways. If a drain in your street is blocked, report it to the council.
Smart water butts: Trials are running on internet-connected water butts that empty before storms, making space for rain. Even if yours isn’t smart, just emptying it ahead of heavy rain can make a difference.
Support better practices in business: This is a message to hospitality owners: make sure fat is disposed of properly! And accountants/bookkeepers in my industry: check if your hospitality clients are claiming rebates for waste oil. It can be sold for biofuels. And if you’re in Southend, we’re now pushing to link proper fat disposal with food hygiene ratings.
Better farming methods: The Environment Agency cites agriculture as a top contributor to poor water quality. Storing winter water for summer use, and reducing pesticide runoff, can help protect rivers.
The bigger picture
Climate change is now a real business risk, not just an environmental one. Flooding causes damage, disrupts operations, and drives up insurance costs. But if we manage water better, both as individuals and as communities, we can reduce both the financial and environmental damage.
No one wants to swim in sewage.
We absolutely need to hold the water companies to account, but we also need to recognise that the solution is bigger than any one company. It’s going to take action from all of us, from household habits to government pressure, from community events to smart design, if we want to see real long lasting change.
